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Glite Dictionary
semiautomatically

semiautomatically

6.3
In a partly automatic way that needs some human action
  • adverb
  • /ˌsɛmiˌɔːtəˈmætɪkli/
translation icon : semiautomáticamente
  • The new assembly line works semiautomatically, with workers assisting in the parts that need careful handling.

Examples

  • Wafer positioning and contact placement can be performed manually, semiautomatically, or fully automatically.

    Academic text (1998)

  • During the Cold War, they were abruptly displaced by the development of Eastern Bloc assault rifles, which can fire either automatically (like a machine gun) or semiautomatically (one shot for each depression of the trigger).

    Academic text (2011)

  • The printer can operate semiautomatically, allowing for some manual adjustments to be made as needed.

  • In the lab, the experiment was conducted semiautomatically, requiring the technician to monitor the process throughout.

Antonyms

manually
72 3.5

To do a task using the hands instead of a machine

How Automatic

automatically
  • Specialized
257 3.1
semiautomatically
6.3
manually
72 3.5

Surface Forms

semiautomatically positive

Morphology

semiautomatically = semiautomatic (transparent) = semi + automatic + ly

The adverb is formed regularly by adding -ly to semiautomatic, and the meaning is directly predictable from that base.

Etymology

The word semiautomatically comes from semi- meaning 'partly' and automatic meaning 'working by itself'. So, to do something semiautomatically means a machine does part of the job and a person does the rest or checks it.