Robot

/ˈɹəʊ̯.bɒt/ · noun

Meaning

(now historical) A system of serfdom used in Central Europe, under which a tenant's rent was paid in forced labour..

Definitions by Sense

1. (now historical) A system of serfdom used in Central Europe, under which a tenant's rent was paid in forced labour.
2. (chiefly science fiction) An intelligent mechanical being designed to look like a human or other creature, and usually made from metal.
3. A machine built to carry out some complex task or group of tasks by physically moving, especially one which can be programmed.
4. (computing) A bot, software designed to perform a task.
5. (figuratively) A person who does not seem to have any emotions or individuality.
6. (South Africa) A traffic light (from earlier robot policeman).
7. (surveying) A theodolite which follows the movements of a prism and can be used by a one-man crew.
8. (dance, preceded by definite article) A style of dance popular in disco in which the dancer imitates the stiff movements of a stereotypical android robot.

Example Sentences

“I say again, down with the robot!—he is a dog who yields it!”

Although the robot varied from region to region, it was rarely less than burdensome.

Young Rossum invented a worker with a minimum amount of requirements. He had to simplify him. He rejected everything that did not contribute directly to the progress of work—everything that makes man more expensive. In fact, he rejected man and made the Robot. My dear Miss Glory, the Robots are not people. Mechanically they are more perfect than we are, they have an enormously developed intelligence, but they have no soul.

The robots in Dick's novel, loosely adapted by Ridley Scott into the film Blade Runner, were so similar to humans that when they went rogue, trained bounty hunters were called in to perform psychological tests to see whether suspected androids lacked human empathy.

We have a robot in the house that does the vacuuming.

It's painfully slow and complex work which has never been attempted before in these conditions: the small box-shaped robots, equipped with two claws, are operating in almost freezing water 5,000ft below the surface, in pitch black and strong currents.

Compared to humanoids, industrial robots typically feature less advanced technology and perform less sophisticated tasks. They’re widely used in industrial settings for manufacturing or transportation. […] About 56% of the humanoid robot supply chain companies are based in China, according to a Morgan Stanley research report last month.

Clifton Sellers attended a Zoom meeting last month where robots outnumbered humans.

Synonyms for robot

Antonyms for robot

Related Words

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Usage Notes

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