1
sb be an automaton
be 后接 automaton 作表语，表示人像机器一样缺乏情感或活力。
In the meeting, he was an automaton, agreeing to every demand.
开会时他像个自动机械，对每个要求都表示同意。
自动机；自动装置
先理解核心含义，再看它在真实句子里的用法。
自动机；自动装置
a mechanism that can move automatically
In the meeting, he was an automaton, agreeing to every demand.
开会时他像个自动机械，对每个要求都表示同意。
按精确指令序列运行的机器或机器人。
A machine or robot designed to follow a precise sequence of instructions.
行为如机器或机器人的人,常指生活单调、缺乏情感。
A person who acts like a machine or robot, often defined as having a monotonous lifestyle and lacking in emotion.
形式系统,如有限状态机或元胞自动机。
A formal system, such as a finite-state machine or cellular automaton.
机械人形玩具。
A toy in the form of a mechanical figure.
After ten years on the assembly line, he became an automaton, moving without any will of his own.
在装配线上工作十年后，他变成了一个机械人，行动毫无自己的意志。
She answered every question like an automaton, with no emotion in her voice.
她像机器人一样回答每个问题，声音里毫无感情。
The new employee is no automaton; she always thinks carefully before acting.
这位新员工绝不是机械行事的人；她行动前总会仔细思考。
be 后接 automaton 作表语，表示人像机器一样缺乏情感或活力。
In the meeting, he was an automaton, agreeing to every demand.
开会时他像个自动机械，对每个要求都表示同意。
turn into 强调状态变化，常指长期重复工作让人变得机械。
Years of repetitive tasks turned her into an automaton.
多年的重复性工作使她变成了一个机械般行动的人。
like an automaton 作方式状语，修饰动作，表示动作机械、不加思考。
She checked the tickets like an automaton.
她像自动机器一样检票。
that 引导定语从句修饰 automaton，说明其自动完成的功能。
The factory bought an automaton that paints car parts.
这家工厂买了一台能喷涂汽车零件的自动机。
Not this
These automatas are part of the museum's collection.
Use this
These automatons are part of the museum's collection.
automaton 的复数形式是 automatons（也可用拉丁复数 automata），不能把 automata 再当作单数加 -s 变成 automatas。
Not this
The door is automaton and opens by itself.
Use this
The door is automatic and opens by itself.
automaton 是名词，表示“自动机器”或“机械般的人”，不能当表语形容词；表示“自动的”要用形容词 automatic。
Not this
The automaton of production increased efficiency.
Use this
The automation of production increased efficiency.
automaton 指具体的自动机器或机器人，而“生产自动化”这一过程应用 automation；这两个词在英语中不可互换。
Focus on the distinctions below. Other candidates are kept compact until a reliable usage note is available.
无思想的机器人；机械行事的人
He went through his daily routine like a mindless automaton.
他像个没有思想的机器人一样完成每天的例行公事。
毫无生气的机械人
The office workers moved around like soulless automatons.
办公室职员像毫无生气的机器人一样走来走去。
发条自动装置
The museum displayed a clockwork automaton that could write.
博物馆展出了一个会写字的发条自动装置。
变得机械刻板
After years of repetitive work, she felt she had become an automaton.
经过多年的重复工作，她觉得自己变得机械刻板了。
像机器人一样行事
Don't just act like an automaton; think for yourself.
不要像机器人一样行事，要自己动脑思考。
像机器人一样；机械地
He went through his daily routine like an automaton, never pausing to think.
他像机器人一样机械地度过每日日常，从不停下来思考。
没有思想的机械人；机械行事的人
The clerks were treated as mindless automatons, expected to do the same task all day.
文员们被当作机械行事的人对待，被要求整天做同样的工作。
Use automaton naturally, then get feedback on meaning, tone, grammar, and phrasing.
Revisit a common error or keep this word in your review list.
联想：auto像automatic“自动”，maton像“马+顿”，一匹自动行走、不停顿的机器马，机械重复，就是automaton。
语域：formal 常见场景：formal writing、literary description 作“机械般行事的人”解时，多用于正式或文学性描写，指人缺乏感情或机械地应付事情；日常口语中较少这样用。
复数形式可为 automatons 或 automata。
Dictionary facts from ECDICT, WIKTIONARY.