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auto
noun
A shortened form of 'automatic' or 'automobile.' As a clipping of 'automobile,' it refers to cars in general. As a shortened form of 'automatic,' it refers to automatic transmissions or settings that operate without manual control or intervention.
Etymology
Example
"He preferred to drive an auto with automatic transmission because it was less tiring on long trips."
Usage Notes
Auto is informal and primarily American English. As a clipping of 'automobile,' it's casual compared to 'car' or 'vehicle.' When referring to automatic transmission, it's technical but accessible. Common in compound words (auto-pilot, auto-correct). Register: informal to neutral, rarely used in very formal writing.