auto

Hello, you have come here looking for the meaning of the word auto. In DICTIOUS you will not only get to know all the dictionary meanings for the word auto, but we will also tell you about its etymology, its characteristics and you will know how to say auto in singular and plural. Everything you need to know about the word auto you have here. The definition of the word auto will help you to be more precise and correct when speaking or writing your texts. Knowing the definition ofauto, as well as those of other words, enriches your vocabulary and provides you with more and better linguistic resources.

English

Pronunciation

Etymology 1

From Ancient Greek αὐτός (autós, self), metanalyzed from auto- in words such as automatic, autopilot, and automobile.

Adjective

auto (not comparable)

  1. (automotive) Clipping of automatic. (of a gearbox/transmission)
    It's an auto sedan which we picked up from a wholesaler locally.

Noun

auto (countable and uncountable, plural autos)

  1. (now chiefly attributive) Clipping of automobile.
    My brother is an auto mechanic. He can get me a discount on auto parts.
    In 1909, his grandfather was the first farmer in the county to buy an auto.
  2. (uncountable) A setting for automatic operation.
    Synonym: automatic
    Antonym: manual
    Put it on auto.
  3. (automotive) An automatic gearbox/transmission.
    A body-coloured centre pillar signalled the arrival of an electronic four-speed auto, slight suspension revisions and minor trim changes.
  4. (automotive) A car with an automatic gearbox/transmission.
    It wasn't too bad but we did hire an auto (couldn't imagine changing gears with my right hand).
Synonyms
Derived terms

Verb

auto (third-person singular simple present autos, present participle autoing, simple past and past participle autoed)

  1. (intransitive, dated) To travel by automobile.
    • 1907, Automotive Industries, volume 16, page 711:
      The food was excellent and well served, and it recalled the Norman cities he had autoed to.
    • 1924, The Smith Alumnae Quarterly, volumes 16-17, page 318:
      Christmas Day we decided to spend in snow, in order to feel more at home, and so we autoed up 5000 ft. to Peira Cava and reveled in the winter sports, autoing back to the roses and “summer time” at nightfall.

Etymology 2

Clipping of autorickshaw, from Hindi ऑटो रिक्शा (ŏṭo rikśā).

Noun

auto (plural autos)

  1. (India) An autorickshaw.
    Users are often unable to note down the number of the taxi or the auto as the driver will just zoom past.

See also

Anagrams

Basque

Etymology

Clipping of automobil.

Pronunciation

Noun

auto inan

  1. automobile, car
    Synonyms: kotxe, beribil
    Xabier auto berria erosi du.Xabier has bought a new car.

Declension

Derived terms

Further reading

  • auto”, in Euskaltzaindiaren Hiztegia [Dictionary of the Basque Academy], Euskaltzaindia
  • auto”, in Orotariko Euskal Hiztegia [General Basque Dictionary], Euskaltzaindia, 1987–2005

Catalan

Etymology

Clipping of automòbil.

Pronunciation

Noun

auto m (plural autos)

  1. car; automobile

Further reading

Cimbrian

Etymology

Borrowed from Italian auto, a clipping of automobile.

Noun

auto m

  1. (Luserna) car, automobile

References

Czech

Czech Wikipedia has an article on:
Wikipedia cs

Etymology

Borrowed from Ancient Greek αὐτός (autós, self).

Pronunciation

Noun

auto n

  1. car, automobile

Declension

Further reading

  • auto”, in Příruční slovník jazyka českého (in Czech), 1935–1957
  • auto”, in Slovník spisovného jazyka českého (in Czech), 1960–1971, 1989
  • auto”, in Internetová jazyková příručka (in Czech)

Dutch

Etymology

Borrowed from French auto, from automobile. Equivalent to a shortened form of automobiel.

Pronunciation

  • IPA(key): /ˈɑu̯toː/, /ˈoːtoː/
  • Audio:(file)
  • Hyphenation: au‧to

Noun

auto m (plural auto's, diminutive autootje n)

  1. car, automobile
    Synonyms: automobiel, bak, kar, wagen, waggie
    Hyponym: oldtimer

Derived terms

Descendants

  • Aukan: oto
  • Caribbean Hindustani: oto
  • Caribbean Javanese: oto
  • Indonesian: oto
  • Lokono: ôto
  • Papiamentu: outo
  • Sranan Tongo: oto
    • Saramaccan: otó
    • Trió: oto
  • West Frisian: auto

Estonian

Etymology

(This etymology is missing or incomplete. Please add to it, or discuss it at the Etymology scriptorium.)

Pronunciation

Noun

auto (genitive auto, partitive autot)

  1. car, automobile
  2. (at second or later mention) any motor vehicle, including trucks, vans, and fire engines.

Declension

Declension of auto (ÕS type 16/pere, no gradation)
singular plural
nominative auto autod
accusative nom.
gen. auto
genitive autode
partitive autot autosid
illative autosse autodesse
inessive autos autodes
elative autost autodest
allative autole autodele
adessive autol autodel
ablative autolt autodelt
translative autoks autodeks
terminative autoni autodeni
essive autona autodena
abessive autota autodeta
comitative autoga autodega

Finnish

Etymology

Clipping of automobiili; see it for more.

Pronunciation

Noun

auto

  1. car, automobile

Declension

Inflection of auto (Kotus type 1/valo, no gradation)
nominative auto autot
genitive auton autojen
partitive autoa autoja
illative autoon autoihin
singular plural
nominative auto autot
accusative nom. auto autot
gen. auton
genitive auton autojen
partitive autoa autoja
inessive autossa autoissa
elative autosta autoista
illative autoon autoihin
adessive autolla autoilla
ablative autolta autoilta
allative autolle autoille
essive autona autoina
translative autoksi autoiksi
abessive autotta autoitta
instructive autoin
comitative See the possessive forms below.
Possessive forms of auto (Kotus type 1/valo, no gradation)
first-person singular possessor
singular plural
nominative autoni autoni
accusative nom. autoni autoni
gen. autoni
genitive autoni autojeni
partitive autoani autojani
inessive autossani autoissani
elative autostani autoistani
illative autooni autoihini
adessive autollani autoillani
ablative autoltani autoiltani
allative autolleni autoilleni
essive autonani autoinani
translative autokseni autoikseni
abessive autottani autoittani
instructive
comitative autoineni
second-person singular possessor
singular plural
nominative autosi autosi
accusative nom. autosi autosi
gen. autosi
genitive autosi autojesi
partitive autoasi autojasi
inessive autossasi autoissasi
elative autostasi autoistasi
illative autoosi autoihisi
adessive autollasi autoillasi
ablative autoltasi autoiltasi
allative autollesi autoillesi
essive autonasi autoinasi
translative autoksesi autoiksesi
abessive autottasi autoittasi
instructive
comitative autoinesi
first-person plural possessor
singular plural
nominative automme automme
accusative nom. automme automme
gen. automme
genitive automme autojemme
partitive autoamme autojamme
inessive autossamme autoissamme
elative autostamme autoistamme
illative autoomme autoihimme
adessive autollamme autoillamme
ablative autoltamme autoiltamme
allative autollemme autoillemme
essive autonamme autoinamme
translative autoksemme autoiksemme
abessive autottamme autoittamme
instructive
comitative autoinemme
second-person plural possessor
singular plural
nominative autonne autonne
accusative nom. autonne autonne
gen. autonne
genitive autonne autojenne
partitive autoanne autojanne
inessive autossanne autoissanne
elative autostanne autoistanne
illative autoonne autoihinne
adessive autollanne autoillanne
ablative autoltanne autoiltanne
allative autollenne autoillenne
essive autonanne autoinanne
translative autoksenne autoiksenne
abessive autottanne autoittanne
instructive
comitative autoinenne

Synonyms

Derived terms

compounds

Further reading

Anagrams

French

Etymology

Clipping of automobile.

Pronunciation

Noun

auto f (plural autos)

  1. car
    Synonyms: automobile, voiture

Descendants

  • Armenian: օթո (ōtʻo)
  • Mauritian Creole: loto
  • Moroccan Arabic: لوطو (lūṭu)
  • Turkish: oto
  • Vietnamese: ô tô

Anagrams

Inari Sami

Etymology

Borrowed from Finnish auto.

Noun

auto

  1. car

Inflection

Even inflection in -o[1]
singular plural
Nominative auto autoh
Accusative auto autoid
Genitive auto autoi
Illative auton autoid
Locative autost autoin
Comitative autoin autoiguin
Abessive autottáá autoittáá
Essive auton
Partitive autod

Alternative forms

References

Interlingua

Etymology

Shortened form of automobile, from Ancient Greek αὐτός (autós, self).

Noun

auto (plural autos)

  1. car, automobile
    Synonym: automobile

Italian

Pronunciation

  • IPA(key): /ˈaw.to/
  • Rhymes: -awto
  • Hyphenation: àu‧to

Etymology 1

Clipping of automobile.

Noun

auto f (invariable)

  1. Clipping of automobile: car
    Synonyms: automobile, macchina, vettura
Derived terms
Descendants

Etymology 2

Clipping of autobus.

Noun

auto m (invariable)

  1. (regional) Clipping of autobus: bus
    Synonym: autobus

Etymology 3

From Spanish and Portuguese auto (literally act).

Noun

auto m (invariable)

  1. (historical, uncountable) auto (genre of dramatic literature)
  2. (historical) an auto literary work

Further reading

  • auto1 in Treccani.it – Vocabolario Treccani on line, Istituto dell'Enciclopedia Italiana
  • auto2 in Treccani.it – Vocabolario Treccani on line, Istituto dell'Enciclopedia Italiana

Japanese

Romanization

auto

  1. Rōmaji transcription of アウト

Kari'na

Alternative forms

Etymology

From Proto-Cariban *ôwtô; compare Wayana ëutë, Waiwai ïwtï, Akawaio öutö, Macushi ewîtî, Pemon autö, Ye'kwana öttö.

Pronunciation

Noun

auto (possessed auty)

  1. house, hut
  2. home, dwelling in general

References

  • Courtz, Hendrik (2008) A Carib grammar and dictionary, Toronto: Magoria Books, →ISBN, page 248
  • Ahlbrinck, Willem (1931) “auto”, in Encyclopaedie der Karaïben, Amsterdam: Koninklijke Akademie van Wetenschappen, page 117; republished as Willem Ahlbrinck, Doude van Herwijnen, transl., L'Encyclopédie des Caraïbes, Paris, 1956, page 117

Latin

Pronunciation

Adjective

autō

  1. dative/ablative masculine/neuter singular of autus

Latvian

Etymology 1

Shortened form of automašīna.

Pronunciation

Noun

auto m (invariable)

  1. (colloquial) car (automobile, a vehicle steered by a driver)
    Synonyms: automašīna, mašīna

Etymology 2

See aut.

Participle

auto

  1. inflection of autais:
    1. vocative/accusative/instrumental singular masculine/feminine
    2. genitive plural masculine/feminine

Nauruan

Noun

auto

  1. car

Neapolitan

Alternative forms

Etymology

Inherited from Latin altus.

Adjective

auto (feminine singular auta, masculine plural aute, feminine plural aute)

  1. tall
  2. high (positionally)

Adverb

auto

  1. high

References

  • Giacco, Giuseppe (2003) “àuto-a”, in Schedario Napoletano

Polish

Etymology

Borrowed from German Auto.

Pronunciation

Noun

auto n (diminutive autko)

  1. (colloquial) car, automobile
    Synonyms: see Thesaurus:samochód

Declension

Further reading

  • auto in Wielki słownik języka polskiego, Instytut Języka Polskiego PAN
  • auto in Polish dictionaries at PWN

Portuguese

Pronunciation

 

Etymology 1

Semi-learned borrowing from Latin āctus, perfect passive participle of agō (to make, I do), from Proto-Indo-European *h₂eǵ- (to lead). Doublet of ato and acto.

Noun

auto m (plural autos)

  1. a public deed or ceremony
    Synonyms: solenidade, cerimônia
  2. auto (a sub-genre of dramatic literature)
  3. (dated) act; deed
    Synonyms: feito, ato, ação
  4. act (record of an accomplishment)
  5. document that is part of a lawsuit or court case
  6. narration or description of an event made by a public authority and which serves as evidence of such event (e.g. a traffic citation)
Derived terms

Etymology 2

Clipping of automóvel.

Noun

auto m (plural autos)

  1. automobile; car
    Synonyms: automóvel, carro, veículo

Romagnol

Etymology

Clipping of automòbila.

Pronunciation

  • (Central Romagnol): IPA(key):

Noun

auto f (invariable)

  1. car
    Synonym: automòbila

Derived terms

References

  • Masotti, Adelmo (1996) Vocabolario Romagnolo Italiano [Romagnol-Italian dictionary] (in Italian), Bologna: Zanichelli, page 46

Serbo-Croatian

Etymology

Clipping of automòbīl.

Pronunciation

  • IPA(key): /ǎuto/
  • Hyphenation: a‧u‧to

Noun

àuto m or n (Cyrillic spelling а̀уто)

  1. car, automobile
    Synonym: kola
    Ne možeš da uzmeš auto, jer nema benzina.You can’t take the car, because there isn’t any gas.
    • 1989, Vidosav Stevanović, Inicijali:
      Cigareta beše gorka kao pepeo. Sedeo sam u autu (ruke na volanu, glava na rukama) i osluškivao kišu – večan, jednoličan i uvek nov šum, dirljivo dosadan i meni neobično, tužno uzbudljiv; rominjala je šapućući kao starica koja plače na tuđem grobu.
      The cigarette was as bitter as ash. I sat in the car (hands on the steering wheel, head on my hands) and listened to the rain - eternal, monotonous and always new noise, touchingly boring and strangely, sadly exciting for me; she whispered like an old woman crying at someone else's grave.

Usage notes

  • While the masculine form is preferred across all standards, the neuter gender is often found both in Serbian and Croatian dialects ("plavo auto" instead of "plavi auto"). In some regions (e.g. parts of Dalmatia), the word is almost always used in its neuter form. When the word is used with neuter gender, the declension changes accordingly.

Declension

References

  • auto”, in Hrvatski jezični portal [Croatian language portal] (in Serbo-Croatian), 2006–2024

Slovak

Pronunciation

Noun

auto n (related adjective autový, diminutive autíčko)

  1. car

Declension

Further reading

  • auto”, in Slovníkový portál Jazykovedného ústavu Ľ. Štúra SAV [Dictionary portal of the Ľ. Štúr Institute of Linguistics, Slovak Academy of Science] (in Slovak), https://slovnik.juls.savba.sk, 2003–2024

Spanish

Pronunciation

Etymology 1

Shortening of automóvil, from Ancient Greek αὐτός (autós, self).

Noun

auto m (plural autos)

  1. (Argentina, Bolivia, Chile, Ecuador, Mexico, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Uruguay) car, automobile
    Synonyms: automóvil, (Mexico, Central America, Caribbean America, Colombia, Venezuela) carro, (Philippines, Spain) coche
Derived terms

Etymology 2

Early borrowing from Latin actus. Doublet of the later borrowing acto.

Noun

auto m (plural autos)

  1. (law, formal) order, writ, resolution
  2. (literature) short play from the Middle Ages or the Renaissance
Derived terms

Further reading

West Frisian

Etymology

Borrowed from Dutch auto, from French auto.

Noun

auto c (plural auto's)

  1. A car, an automobile.