The difference between Automatic and Semi-automatic
When used as nouns, automatic means a car with automatic transmission, whereas semi-automatic means a semi-automatic firearm, especially such a pistol.
When used as adjectives, automatic means capable of operating without external control or intervention, whereas semi-automatic means partially automatic.
check bellow for the other definitions of Automatic and Semi-automatic
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Automatic as an adjective:
Capable of operating without external control or intervention.
Examples:
"The automatic clothes washer was a great labor-saving device."
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Automatic as an adjective:
Done out of habit or without conscious thought.
Examples:
"The reaction was automatic: flight!"
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Automatic as an adjective (of a [[firearm]] such as a [[machine gun]]):
Firing continuously as long as the trigger is pressed until ammunition is exhausted.
Examples:
"Fully automatic weapons cannot be legally owned by private citizens in the US, except in very special circumstances, as by private security companies."
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Automatic as an adjective (of a [[handgun]]):
An autoloader; a semi-automatic or self-loading pistol, as opposed to a revolver or other manually actuated handgun, which fires one shot per pull of the trigger; distinct from machine guns.
Examples:
"The US Army adopted John Browning's M1911 pistol as its [[sidearm]], chambered in .45 ACP (Automatic Colt Pistol)."
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Automatic as an adjective (computing, of a local [[variable]]):
Automatically added to and removed from the stack during the course of function calls.
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Automatic as an adjective (maths, of a group):
Having one or more finite-state automata
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Automatic as a noun:
A car with automatic transmission.
Examples:
"I never learned to drive a stick. I can only drive an automatic."
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Automatic as a noun:
A semi-automatic pistol.
Examples:
"The [[G-men]] raiding the [[speakeasy]] were equipped with .45 automatics, while the local policemen were carrying revolvers and shotguns."
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Semi-automatic as an adjective:
Partially automatic.
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Semi-automatic as an adjective:
Of a firearm that automatically ejects a shell and loads the next one, but requires the trigger to be squeezed for each shot; autoloading.
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Semi-automatic as a noun (weapons):
A semi-automatic firearm, especially such a pistol.
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Semi-automatic as a noun (automotive):
A semi-automatic transmission