automatic weapon. Definition. noun. a firearm which will continue to reload itself and fire for as long as pressure is applied to the trigger (e.g. a machine-gun)
As you will notice, no qualifier is part of the term "automatic weapon" in this definition.
However, the qualifier "semi" is used to differentiate the weapon, as shown in this definition, again from militarydictionary.com...
semi-automatic weapon. Definition. noun. a firearm which reloads itself after each shot (e.g. a self-loading rifle)
Bearing that in mind, you posted:
From militarydictionary.com...
automatic weapon. Definition. noun. a firearm which will continue to reload itself and fire for as long as pressure is applied to the trigger (e.g. a machine-gun)
semi-automatic weapon. Definition. noun. a firearm which reloads itself after each shot (e.g. a self-loading rifle)
Stipulating for the sake of discussion the correctness of the above:
1. The following sentence from http://www.colt.com/mil/history.asp indicates ignorance on the part of Colt when they write about their own firearms: "In 1960, another milestone in the history of Colt began with the introduction of the AR-15 semiautomatic rifle, followed by the M16 military full-automatic version."
2. At the same site, when they write "The Combat Government Model and the .380 Government Model automatic pistols were introduced in 1984", the pistols of which they write must be "a firearm which will continue to reload itself and fire for as long as pressure is applied to the trigger (e.g. a machine-gun)"
3. At the same site, when they write "The new Colt .22 Automatic was introduced in 1993, along with the M4 rifle", the "new Colt .22 Automatic" must be "a firearm which will continue to reload itself and fire for as long as pressure is applied to the trigger (e.g. a machine-gun)"
4. When you Google "colt automatic pistol" all the references that come up (including one about a "1903 Colt Automatic .32 Hammerless Pistol" are for "a firearm which will continue to reload itself and fire for as long as pressure is applied to the trigger (e.g. a machine-gun)"
5. Your response to my questions (Especially the first one) about Automatic Colt Pistol cartridges should be very interesting. Please do respond.
Ending the above stipulation, I say again that the language has become corrupted. It doesn't match history or reality.
And semiautomatic is a subset of automatic as is full or fully automatic.