noun

• (now historical) A system of serfdom used in Central Europe, under which a tenant's rent was paid in forced labour.
  "“I say again, down with the robot!—he is a dog who yields it!”"

noun

• (chiefly science fiction) An intelligent mechanical being designed to look like a human or other creature, and usually made from metal.
  "Young Rossum invented a worker with a minimum amount of requirements. He had to simplify him. He rejected everything that did not contribute directly to the progress of work—everything that makes man more expensive. In fact, he rejected man and made the Robot. My dear Miss Glory, the Robots are not people. Mechanically they are more perfect than we are, they have an enormously developed intelligence, but they have no soul."
• (computing) A bot, software designed to perform a task.
  "Clifton Sellers attended a Zoom meeting last month where robots outnumbered humans."
• (figuratively) A person who does not seem to have any emotions or individuality.
  "Straight society tries to change us by several means. Most of the time, it is mental torture, though physical abuse is not uncommon. We are programmed to be straight starting from the day we are born, and every action, word, and feeling must conform to the straight image. If we DO decide to be free rather than to be robots, here are some of the consequences."
• (South Africa) A traffic light (from earlier robot policeman).

noun

• (Internet slang, 4chan slang) A habitual poster on the /r9k/ board on 4chan; a member of the /r9k/ community.
  "One anonymous message addressed to "fellow robots" hoped readers would have "an enjoyable Elliot Rodger day"—a reference to the shooter who killed six near a Santa Barbara university last year."