autopilot
UK /ˈɔːtəʊˌpaɪlət/ · US /ˈɔtoʊˌpaɪlət/ noun, verb
Forms autopilots autopiloting autopiloted
- noun (aviation, nautical) A mechanical, electrical, or hydraulic system used to guide a vehicle without assistance from a human being. “I set the autopilot to due south, so I could get some rest.”
- noun (by extension, figuratively) A state of mind where one no longer thinks about doing one's actions, but acts mechanically. “I've been doing this 12 hours non-stop, and am so hungry and tired that I've stopped thinking: I'm now on autopilot.”
- verb (intransitive, of a vehicle) To pilot itself; to drive or travel automatically.
Synonyms
Sources: Wiktionary · WordNet 3.0 — from the Wiktionary entry “autopilot”, CC BY-SA 4.0. Details