robot

Industrial robot handling flat glass.

Meaning

A machine built to carry out some complex task or group of tasks by physically moving, especially one which can be programmed.
An intelligent mechanical being designed to look like a human or other creature, and usually made from metal.
A person who does not seem to have any emotions.
A traffic light (from earlier robot policeman).
A theodolite which follows the movements of a prism and can be used by a one-man crew.
A style of dance popular in disco in which the dancer imitates the stiff movements of a stereotypical android robot.

Borrowed from Czech robot, from robota. Coined in the 1920 science-fiction play R.U.R. (Rossum's Universal Robots) by Karel Čapek after having been suggested to him by his brother Josef, and taken into English without change.

Explore and search massive catalog of over 900,000 word meanings.

Get a curated memorable word every day.

Level up your vocabulary by setting personal goals.

Try out Vedaist now.