semiautomatic

[ sem-ee-aw-tuh-mat-ik, sem-ahy- ]
/ ˌsɛm iˌɔ təˈmæt ɪk, ˌsɛm aɪ- /

adjective

partly automatic.
(of a firearm) automatically ejecting the cartridge case of a fired shot and loading the next cartridge from the magazine but requiring a squeeze of the trigger to fire each individual shot.

noun

a self-loading rifle or other firearm.

Origin of semiautomatic

First recorded in 1890–95; semi- + automatic

OTHER WORDS FROM semiautomatic

sem·i·au·to·mat·i·cal·ly, adverb

Words nearby semiautomatic

semiarch, semiarid, semiattached, semiautobiographical, semiautomated, semiautomatic, semiautonomous, semiautonomy, semibasement, semibituminous coal, semibold

Example sentences from the Web for semiautomatic

British Dictionary definitions for semiautomatic

semiautomatic
/ (ˌsɛmɪˌɔːtəˈmætɪk) /

adjective

partly automatic
(of a firearm) self-loading but firing only one shot at each pull of the trigger Compare automatic (def. 5)

noun

a semiautomatic firearm

Derived forms of semiautomatic

semiautomatically, adverb