1. operating partly by automatic means and partly by hand
2. of a firearm that fires one shot each time the trigger is pulled and automatically reloads
Usage: firearms

1. a semiautomatic firearm
Usage: firearms

Examples

• The semiautomatic washing machine requires you to move clothes from the wash to the spin cycle.
• He owns a semiautomatic rifle for hunting.
• The semiautomatic transmission shifts gears without a clutch pedal.
• Police officers often carry semiautomatic pistols.
• The factory uses semiautomatic machinery that needs occasional human intervention.
• She prefers a semiautomatic over a revolver for target practice.