automatic

automatique

Qui fonctionne tout seul, sans qu’une personne doive contrôler chaque action.

En anglais simple : Working by itself, without a person having to control each action.

• The shop has automatic doors.
• An automatic timer switches the lights off.
• We installed an automatic watering system in the garden.

Synonymes : self-operating

Contraires : manual

Expressions courantes : automatic door, automatic washing machine, automatic control, automatic watering system

automatique, machinal

Fait sans réfléchir, souvent parce qu’on l’a déjà fait de nombreuses fois.

En anglais simple : Done without thinking, often because you have done it many times before.

• Her smile was automatic.
• He gave an automatic reply without looking up.
• With practice, these movements become automatic.

Synonymes : unconscious, instinctive

Contraires : deliberate

Expressions courantes : automatic reaction, automatic response

voiture automatique, boîte automatique

Voiture qui change les vitesses toute seule, ou mécanisme qui effectue ces changements.

En anglais simple : A car that changes gears by itself, or the system that does this.

• I drive an automatic.
• She bought an automatic last week.
• This automatic changes gears very smoothly.

Synonymes : automatic car, automatic transmission

Contraires : manual

Expressions courantes : drive an automatic, buy an automatic

arme automatique, mitrailleuse

Arme qui tire sans interruption tant que l’on maintient la détente enfoncée.

En anglais simple : A gun that keeps firing for as long as its trigger is held down.

• The soldier carried an automatic.
• He fired the automatic in short bursts.
• Several automatics were found in the vehicle.

Synonymes : automatic weapon, machine gun

Expressions courantes : fire an automatic, loaded automatic

pistolet semi-automatique

Pistolet qui charge seul la balle suivante, mais tire un seul coup à chaque pression sur la détente.

En anglais simple : A handgun that loads the next bullet itself but fires once each time the trigger is pressed.

• The detective carried an automatic.
• She removed the automatic from its holster.
• The officers exchanged their revolvers for automatics.

Synonymes : semiautomatic pistol

Expressions courantes : carry an automatic, small automatic