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Glossary · Nouns · A

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TermTypeDefinitionClassificationsUpdated
Automatic ChokenounMWEa choke that automatically controls the flow of air to the carburetorverifiedMay 18, 2026
Automatic Data ProcessingnounMWEAny operation or set of operations performed on personal data, whether or not by automated meansProcessRegulatedPIISep 1, 2026
Automatic Data Processing SystemnounMWEAny operation or set of operations performed on personal data, whether or not by automated meansSystemRegulatedPIISep 1, 2026
Automatic DrivenounMWEa transmission that automatically changes the gears according to the speed of the carverifiedMay 18, 2026
automatic enforcementnounMWEA security or compliance capability — typically implemented in software, a policy engine, or a control framework — that applies defined rules, restrictions, or policies to system behavior without requiring human intervention at the moment of enforcement. What distinguishes it from manual or compensating controls is that the enforcement action (blocking a transaction, revoking access, remediating a misconfiguration, applying a configuration change) fires immediately and programmatically upon detection of a condition that violates policy. The automation of security enforcement systems is recognized as one of the most important techniques for enabling a fast response to security challenges, and the concept integrates the enforcement of security rules — including via intrusion detection systems — with policy definitions that translate into specific, installable controls. In practice, the field uses the expression across access control, configuration management, network security, and compliance domains: when a violation is detected, an enforcement engine retrieves the associated remediation and automatically deploys it to resolve the violation — applying solutions without manual interveCapabilityAug 30, 2026
Automatic Face RecognitionnounMWEbiometric identification by scanning a person's face and matching it against a library of known facesverifiedMay 18, 2026
Automatic FirearmnounMWEa firearm that reloads itself and keeps firing until the trigger is releasedverifiedMay 18, 2026
Automatic GunnounMWEa firearm that reloads itself and keeps firing until the trigger is releasedverifiedMay 18, 2026
Automatic PilotnounMWEa navigational device that automatically keeps ships or planes or spacecraft on a steady courseverifiedMay 18, 2026
Automatic PistolnounMWEa pistol that will keep firing until the ammunition is gone or the trigger is releasedverifiedMay 18, 2026
Automatic Remote RekeyingnounMWEProcedure to rekey a distant crypto-equipment electronically without specific actions by the receiving terminal operator. See Manual Remote Rekeying.ProcessRegulatedCUIMay 9, 2026
Automatic RiflenounMWElight machine gunverifiedMay 18, 2026
Automatic TellernounMWEan unattended machine (outside some banks) that dispenses money when a personal coded card is usedverifiedMay 18, 2026
Automatic Teller MachinenounMWEan unattended machine (outside some banks) that dispenses money when a personal coded card is usedverifiedMay 18, 2026
Automatic TransmissionnounMWEa transmission that automatically changes the gears according to the speed of the carverifiedMay 18, 2026
Automatic WashernounMWEa home appliance for washing clothes and linens automaticallyverifiedMay 18, 2026
Automatic WeaponnounMWEa firearm that reloads itself and keeps firing until the trigger is releasedverifiedMay 18, 2026
AutomationnounThe system functions with no/little human operator involvement; however, the system performance is limited to the specific actions it has been designed to do. Typically these are well-defined tasks that have predetermined responses (i.e., simple rule-based responses).CapabilityMay 18, 2026
Automation BiasnounMWEover-relying on the outputs of AI systemsVulnerabilityAug 28, 2026
Automatismnounany reaction that occurs automatically without conscious thought or reflection (especially the undirected behavior seen in psychomotor epilepsy)verifiedMay 18, 2026
Automatonnounsomeone who acts or responds in a mechanical or apathetic wayverifiedMay 18, 2026
Automobile BatterynounMWEa lead-acid storage battery in a motor vehicleverifiedMay 18, 2026
Automobile DrivernounMWEsomeone who drives racing cars at high speedsverifiedMay 18, 2026
Automobile EnginenounMWEthe engine that propels an automobileverifiedMay 18, 2026
Automobile FactorynounMWEa factory where automobiles are manufacturedverifiedMay 18, 2026
Automobile HornnounMWEa device on an automobile for making a warning noiseverifiedMay 18, 2026
Automobile IndustrynounMWEthe manufacturers of automobiles considered collectivelyverifiedMay 18, 2026
Automobile InsurancenounMWEinsurance against loss due to theft or traffic accidentsverifiedMay 18, 2026
Automobile LoannounMWEa personal loan to purchase an automobileverifiedMay 18, 2026
Automobile MechanicnounMWEsomeone whose occupation is repairing and maintaining automobilesverifiedMay 18, 2026
Automobile TirenounMWEa tire consisting of a rubber ring around the rim of an automobile wheelverifiedMay 18, 2026
Automobile TrafficnounMWEcars coming and goingverifiedMay 18, 2026
Automobile TrunknounMWEcompartment in an automobile that carries luggage or shopping or toolsverifiedMay 18, 2026
Automobilistnounsomeone who drives (or travels in) an automobileverifiedMay 18, 2026
Automotive EngineernounMWEan engineer concerned with the design and construction of automobilesverifiedMay 18, 2026
Automotive EngineeringnounMWEthe activity of designing and constructing automobilesverifiedMay 18, 2026
Automotive TechnologynounMWEthe activity of designing and constructing automobilesverifiedMay 18, 2026
Automotive VehiclenounMWEa self-propelled wheeled vehicle that does not run on railsverifiedMay 18, 2026
Automysophobianouna morbid fear of being dirtyverifiedMay 18, 2026
AutonomicnounA monitor-analyze-plan-execute (MAPE) computer system capable of sensing environments, interpreting policy, accessing knowledge (data --- information --- knowledge), making decisions, and initiating dynamically assembled routines of choreographed activity to both complete a process and update the set of environmental variables that enables the autonomic system to self-manage its own operation and the processes it oversees. An autonomic system is identified by eight characteristics: a) Knows the resources to which it has access, what its capabilities and limitations are, and how and why it is connected to other systems. b) Is able to configure and reconfigure itself depending on the changing computing environment. c) Is able to optimize its performance to ensure the most efficient computing process. d) Is able to work around encountered problems either by repairing itself or routing functions away from the trouble. e) Is able to detect, identify, and protect itself against various types of attacks to maintain overall system security and integrity. f) Is able to adapt to its environment as it changes by interacting with neighboring systems and establishing communication protocols. g) Relies on open standards and requires access to proprietary environments to achieve full performance. h) Is able to anticipate the demand on its resources transparently to users.SystemAug 28, 2026
Autonomic GanglionnounMWEany of the ganglia of the autonomic system whose unmyelinated fibers innervate the internal organsverifiedMay 18, 2026
Autonomic Nervous SystemnounMWEthe part of the nervous system of vertebrates that controls involuntary actions of the smooth muscles and heart and glandsverifiedMay 18, 2026
Autonomic PlexusnounMWEa plexus of sympathetic and parasympathetic nerve fibersverifiedMay 18, 2026
Autonomous SystemnounMWEOne or more routers under a single administration operating the same routing policy.NetworkMay 9, 2026
Autonomous VehiclenounMWE[an] automobile, bus, tractor, combine, boat, forklift, etc. . . . capable of sensing its environment and moving safely with little or no human input.PhysicalAug 28, 2026
AutonomynounA system’s level of independence from human involvement and ability to operate without human intervention. [Different AI systems have different levels of autonomy.] An autonomous system has a set of learning, adaptive and analytical capabilities to respond to situations that were not pre-programmed or anticipated (i.e., decision-based responses) prior to system deployment. Autonomous or semi-autonomous AI systems can be characterised as "human-in-the-loop", "human-on-the-loop", or "human-out-of-the loop" systems depending on their level of meaningful involvement of human beings.CapabilityMay 18, 2026
Autophytenounplant capable of synthesizing its own food from simple organic substancesverifiedMay 18, 2026
Autophytic PlantnounMWEplant capable of synthesizing its own food from simple organic substancesverifiedMay 18, 2026
Autopilotnouna navigational device that automatically keeps ships or planes or spacecraft on a steady courseverifiedMay 18, 2026
Autoplastynountissue that is taken from one site and grafted to another site on the same personverifiedMay 18, 2026
Autoradiographnouna radiogram produced by radiation emitted by the specimen being photographedverifiedMay 18, 2026
Autoradiographynounproducing a radiograph by means of the radiation emitted from the specimen being photographedverifiedMay 18, 2026
Autoregulationnounprocesses that maintain a generally constant physiological state in a cell or organismverifiedMay 18, 2026
Autosexingnoun(especially of domestic fowl) breeding to reveal differential sex characteristics at hatchingverifiedMay 18, 2026
Autosomal Dominant DiseasenounMWEa disease caused by a dominant mutant gene on an autosomeverifiedMay 18, 2026
Autosomal Dominant DisordernounMWEa disease caused by a dominant mutant gene on an autosomeverifiedMay 18, 2026
Autosomal Recessive DefectnounMWEa disease caused by the presence of two recessive mutant genes on an autosomeverifiedMay 18, 2026
Autosomal Recessive DiseasenounMWEa disease caused by the presence of two recessive mutant genes on an autosomeverifiedMay 18, 2026
Autosomenounany chromosome that is not a sex chromosomeverifiedMay 18, 2026
Autostradanounan expressway in an Italian-speaking countryverifiedMay 18, 2026
Autosuggestionnouna system for self-improvement developed by Emile Coue which was popular in the 1920s and 1930sverifiedMay 15, 2026
Autotelismnounbelief that a work of art is an end in itself or its own justificationverifiedMay 18, 2026
Autotomynounspontaneous removal or casting off of a body part (as the tail of a lizard or claw of a lobster) especially when the organism is injured or under attackverifiedMay 18, 2026
Autotrophnounplant capable of synthesizing its own food from simple organic substancesverifiedMay 18, 2026
Autotrophic OrganismnounMWEplant capable of synthesizing its own food from simple organic substancesverifiedMay 18, 2026
Autotypenounprocess for producing permanent prints in a carbon pigmentverifiedMay 18, 2026
Autotypynounprocess for producing permanent prints in a carbon pigmentverifiedMay 18, 2026
Autumnnounthe season when the leaves fall from the treesverifiedMay 18, 2026
Autumn CrocusnounMWEbulbous autumn-flowering herb with white, purple or lavender-and-white flowersverifiedMay 18, 2026
Autumn PumpkinnounMWEa coarse vine widely cultivated for its large pulpy round orange fruit with firm orange skin and numerous seedsverifiedMay 18, 2026
Autumn SneezeweednounMWENorth American perennial with bright yellow late summer flowersverifiedMay 18, 2026
Autumnal EquinoxnounMWE(astronomy) the equinoctial point that lies in the constellation of VirgoverifiedMay 18, 2026
Auxesisnoungrowth from increase in cell size without cell divisionverifiedMay 18, 2026
Auxiliary AirfieldnounMWEan airfield that functions in a subsidiary capacityverifiedMay 18, 2026
Auxiliary BoilernounMWE(nautical) an extra boiler (as a ship's boiler that is used while the ship is in port)verifiedMay 18, 2026
Auxiliary CellnounMWEa terrorist cell responsible for logisticsverifiedMay 18, 2026
Auxiliary EnginenounMWE(nautical) a small engine (as one used on board ships to operate a windlass)verifiedMay 18, 2026
Auxiliary EquipmentnounMWEelectronic equipment not in direct communication (or under the control of) the central processing unitverifiedMay 18, 2026
Auxiliary OperationnounMWEa operation performed by off-line equipment not under the control of the central processing unitverifiedMay 18, 2026
Auxiliary PumpnounMWEa supplementary pump available if neededverifiedMay 18, 2026
Auxiliary StoragenounMWEa data storage device that is not the main memory of a computerverifiedMay 18, 2026
Auxiliary VerbnounMWEa verb that combines with another verb in a verb phrase to help form tense, mood, voice, or condition of the verb it combines withverifiedMay 18, 2026
Auxinnouna plant hormone that promotes root formation and bud growthverifiedMay 18, 2026
Avadavatnounred Asian weaverbirds often kept as cage birdsverifiedMay 18, 2026
AvailabilitynounEnsuring timely and reliable access to and use of information. [20]RequirementMay 9, 2026
availability requirementnounMWEAvailability requirement relates to the need for information to be available when required.RequirementRegulatedMay 9, 2026
Availablenessnounthe quality of being at hand when neededverifiedMay 18, 2026
Avalanche LilynounMWEperennial herb having large white flowers marked with orangeverifiedMay 18, 2026
Avaramnounevergreen Indian shrub with vivid yellow flowers whose bark is used in tanningverifiedMay 18, 2026
Avaricenounextreme greed for material wealthverifiedMay 18, 2026
Avariciousnessnounextreme greed for material wealthverifiedMay 18, 2026
Avaritianounreprehensible acquisitivenessverifiedMay 18, 2026
Avatarnounthe manifestation of a Hindu deity (especially Vishnu) in human or superhuman or animal formverifiedMay 18, 2026
Avengernounsomeone who takes vengeanceverifiedMay 18, 2026
Avensnounany of various perennials of the genus Geum having usually pinnate basal leaves and variously colored flowersverifiedMay 18, 2026
Aventailnouna medieval hood of mail suspended from a basinet to protect the head and neckverifiedMay 18, 2026
Aventurinenouna translucent quartz spangled with bits of mica or other mineralsverifiedMay 18, 2026
Avenuenouna wide street or thoroughfareverifiedMay 18, 2026
Average CostnounMWEtotal cost for all units bought (or produced) divided by the number of unitsverifiedMay 18, 2026
Averagenessnounordinariness as a consequence of being average and not outstandingverifiedMay 18, 2026