semi-automatic

semi-automatic

See also: semiautomatic

English

Alternative forms

Etymology

    From semi- + automatic.

    Pronunciation

    • Audio (US):(file)

    Adjective

    semi-automatic (not comparable)

    1. Partially automatic.
    2. Of a firearm that automatically ejects a shell and loads the next one, but requires the trigger to be squeezed for each shot; autoloading.
      Coordinate term: fully-automatic
      • 2008 September 17, “Bill in House forces capital to relax gun restrictions”, in The New York Times[1]:
        The pro-gun majority in the House of Representatives moved Wednesday to compel the nation's capital to broaden the rights of its residents to buy and own firearms, including semi-automatic weapons.

    Derived terms

    Translations

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    Noun

    semi-automatic (plural semi-automatics)

    1. (weaponry) A semi-automatic firearm, especially such a pistol.
      • 1989 February 8, Robert Reinhold, “LOS ANGELES BANS RAPID-FIRING GUNS”, in The New York Times[2]:
        The Los Angeles ordinance covers semi-automatics with a detachable magazine of 20 rounds or more. As examples, it cited such weapons as the AR 15 assault rifles, Uzi assault rifles and carbines, Ingram Mac-10 and Mac-11 assault carbines, AK-47 assault rifles, Thompson carbines and all Avtomat Kalashnikov weapons.
    2. (automotive) A semi-automatic transmission.

    Translations

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    See also

    (automotive):