animatronics
animatronics Lexical Profile
animatronics Game Scores & Validity
• noun
The technology and technique of creating and operating lifelike electromechanical puppets or robotic figures, especially for use in film, television, and theme park attractions.
"Before computer-generated imagery became widespread, filmmakers relied heavily on animatronics to bring prehistoric creatures to life on screen."
Lifelike mechanized puppets or robotic figures controlled by electronics or computer systems (plural of animatronic).
"The museum's dinosaur exhibit features several full-scale animatronics that roar and move their heads as visitors walk past."
Word Nuance & Usage
When referring to the technology or field of study, "animatronics" takes a singular verb; when referring to multiple robotic figures themselves, it takes a plural verb.
• Rhymes for animatronics
Word Origin & Etymology
Coined in the early 1960s by Walt Disney Productions as a blend of "animate" and "electronics," originally derived from the trademarked system "Audio-Animatronics."