au·tom·a·tism

(ô-tŏm′ə-tĭz′əm)

a. The state or quality of being automatic.

b. Automatic mechanical action.

2. Philosophy The theory that the body is a machine whose functions are accompanied but not controlled by consciousness.

3. Physiology

a. The involuntary functioning of an organ or other body structure that is not under conscious control, such as the beating of the heart or the dilation of the pupil of the eye.

b. The reflexive action of a body part.

4. Psychology Mechanical, seemingly aimless behavior characteristic of various mental disorders.

[From Latin automaton, automaton; see automaton.]

au·tom′a·tist n.

American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

automatism

(ɔːˈtɒməˌtɪzəm)

1. the state or quality of being automatic; mechanical or involuntary action

2. (Law) law philosophy the explanation of an action, or of action in general, as determined by the physiological states of the individual, admissible in law as a defence when the physiological state is involuntary, as in sleepwalking

3. (Philosophy) law philosophy the explanation of an action, or of action in general, as determined by the physiological states of the individual, admissible in law as a defence when the physiological state is involuntary, as in sleepwalking

4. (Psychology) psychol the performance of actions, such as sleepwalking, without conscious knowledge or control

5. (Literary & Literary Critical Terms) the suspension of consciousness sought or achieved by certain artists and writers to allow free flow of uncensored thoughts

6. (Art Terms) the suspension of consciousness sought or achieved by certain artists and writers to allow free flow of uncensored thoughts

auˈtomatist n

Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014

au•tom•a•tism

(ɔˈtɒm əˌtɪz əm)

n.

1. the action or condition of being automatic; mechanical or involuntary action.

2. the theory that the activities of humans and animals are controlled by physical or physiological causes rather than by consciousness.

3. the involuntary functioning of an organic process, esp. muscular, without apparent neural stimulation.

4. Psychol. the performance of an act or actions without the performer's awareness or conscious volition.

5. an artistic technique in which the impulses of the unconscious mind are freed to guide the hand in producing images.

[1880–85; < Greek automatismós a happening of itself. See automaton, -ism]

au•tom′a•tist, n., adj.

automatism

an automatic or involuntary action. — automatist, n.

automatism

[ɔːˈtɒmətɪzəm] N → automatismo m

Collins Spanish Dictionary - Complete and Unabridged 8th Edition 2005 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1971, 1988 © HarperCollins Publishers 1992, 1993, 1996, 1997, 2000, 2003, 2005

au·tom·a·tism

n. automatismo, conducta que no está bajo control voluntario.