automobile

See also: Automobile and auto-mobile

English
An automobile.

Etymology

From French automobile, from Ancient Greek αὐτός (autós, “self”) + French mobile (“moving”), from Latin mōbilis (“movable”).

Pronunciation
  • (UK, General Australian, New Zealand) IPA(key): /ˈɔː.tə.məˌbiːl/
  • (US) IPA(key): /ˈɔː.tə.məˌbil/, /ˌɔː.tə.məˈbil/, /ˌɔː.təˈmoʊ.bil/
  • (cot–caught merger) IPA(key): /ˈɑː.tə.məˌbil/, /ˈɑː.tə.məˈbil/, /ˈɑː.təˈmoʊ.bil/
  • Audio (US)(file)
  • Hyphenation: au‧to‧mo‧bile

Noun

automobile (plural automobiles)

  1. (US, Canada, Philippines, Australia, New Zealand) A type of motor vehicle designed to move on the ground under its own stored power and intended to carry a driver, a small number of additional passengers, and a very limited amount of other load. A car or motorcar.

Usage notes
  • The word automobile usually implies a car with seating for perhaps up to four or five passengers.
  • A vehicle with more than six or seven seats is usually called a limousine, minivan, van, SUV, bus, etc.
  • A vehicle devoted mainly to cargo is usually called a lorry, truck, or van.

Synonyms

Meronyms

Coordinate terms

Derived terms

Descendants
  • → Alabama: mobìlika
  • → Hawaiian: ʻokomopila
  • → Unami: hatëmopil

Translations

Verb

automobile (third-person singular simple present automobiles, present participle automobiling, simple past and past participle automobiled)

  1. (intransitive, dated) To travel by automobile.
    • 1909, “"How Can He Do It?"”, in Notions and Fancy Goods, volume 43, page 30:
      The misguided youngsters are yachting, attending the races, playing the "stage Johnny," automobiling, playing poker for high stakes, overliving at home, on expensive shopping tours, attending box parties to the theatre, visiting high-priced restaurants, etc., etc.

Translations

Adjective

automobile (not comparable)

  1. Self-moving; self-propelled.
    Synonym: autokinetic
    • 1919, Nikola Tesla, My Inventions:
      As early as 1898 I proposed to representatives of a large manufacturing concern the construction and public exhibition of an automobile carriage which, left to itself, would perform a great variety of operations involving something akin to judgment.

Translations

French

Etymology

From auto- +‎ mobile, as the vehicle is powered by an engine rather than pulled by horses.

Pronunciation
  • IPA(key): /o.tɔ.mɔ.bil/, /ɔ.tɔ.mɔ.bil/
  • Audio (France, Paris)(file)
  • Homophone: automobiles
  • Hyphenation: au‧to‧mo‧bile

Adjective

automobile (plural automobiles)

  1. automotive

Noun

automobile f (plural automobiles)

  1. automobile
    L’automobile est un moyen de déplacement pratique à la campagne, mais cher et polluant.
    The automobile is a practical means of travel in the countryside, but it's expensive and polluting.

Synonyms

Derived terms

Descendants

Further reading

Italian
Diversi tipi di automobile.

Etymology

From auto- +‎ mobile.

Pronunciation
  • IPA(key): /aw.toˈmɔ.bi.le/
  • Audio(file)
  • Rhymes: -ɔbile
  • Hyphenation: au‧to‧mò‧bi‧le

Noun

automobile f (plural automobili)

  1. automobile
    Synonyms: auto, macchina, vettura
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