autopilot
|au/to/pi/lot|
B2
/ˈɔːtəʊˌpaɪlət/
automatic control
Etymology
Etymology Information
'autopilot' originates from the combination of 'auto-' meaning 'self' and 'pilot' meaning 'to steer or guide.'
Historical Evolution
'autopilot' was first used in the early 20th century to describe a self-steering mechanism for aircraft.
Meaning Changes
Initially, it meant 'self-steering device for aircraft,' but it has evolved to also describe a mental state of automatic action.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
a device for automatically steering ships, aircraft, and spacecraft.
The plane was flying on autopilot.
Synonyms
Last updated: 2025/02/17 06:43