auto

[ aw-toh ]
See synonyms for auto on Thesaurus.com
noun,plural au·tos.
adjective
  1. of or relating to automobiles: an auto salesman; auto detailing.

Origin of auto

1
An Americanism dating back to 1895–1900; by shortening

Words Nearby auto

Other definitions for auto- (2 of 5)

auto-1

  1. a combining form meaning “self,” “same,” “spontaneous,” used in the formation of compound words: autograph, autodidact.

Origin of auto-

2
<Greek, combining form of autós self
  • Also especially before a vowel, aut- .

Other definitions for auto- (3 of 5)

auto-2

  1. a combining form representing automobile in compound words: autocade.

Origin of auto-

3
see origin at auto

Other definitions for auto- (4 of 5)

auto-3

  1. a combining form representing automatic in compound words: autoalarm; autofeed; autofocus. Sometimes also taken as an adjective: auto enlarger; auto stop control; auto dialer.

Other definitions for auto. (5 of 5)

auto.

abbreviation
  1. automatic.

  2. automobile.

  1. automotive.

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

How to use auto in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for auto (1 of 2)

auto

/ (ˈɔːtəʊ) /


nounplural -tos US and Canadian informal
  1. Indian informal short for autorickshaw

British Dictionary definitions for auto- (2 of 2)

auto-

combining form
  1. self; same; of or by the same one: autobiography

  2. acting from or occurring within; self-caused: autohypnosis

  1. self-propelling; automatic: automobile

Origin of auto-

2
from Greek autos self

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Scientific definitions for auto-

auto-

  1. A prefix meaning “oneself,” as in autoimmune, producing antibodies or immunity against oneself. It also means “by itself, automatic,” as in autonomic, governing by itself.

The American Heritage® Science Dictionary Copyright © 2011. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.