rout

1
[ rout ]
/ raʊt /

noun

verb (used with object)

to disperse in defeat and disorderly flight: to rout an army.
to defeat decisively: to rout an opponent in conversation.

Origin of rout

1
1200–50; (noun) Middle English < Anglo-French rute, Old French route a fraction, detachment < Latin rupta, feminine past participle of rumpere to break; (v.) derivative of the noun

WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH rout

root rout route

Definition for rout (2 of 4)

rout 2
[ rout ]
/ raʊt /

verb (used without object)

to root: pigs routing in the garden.
to poke, search, or rummage.

verb (used with object)

Origin of rout

2
1540–50; alteration of root2; compare Middle Dutch ruten to root out

Definition for rout (3 of 4)

rout 3
[ rout ]
/ raʊt /

verb (used without object) Archaic.

to snore.

Origin of rout

3
before 900; Middle English routen, Old English hrūtan; cognate with Old High German hrūzan

Definition for rout (4 of 4)

rout 4
[ rout, root ]
/ raʊt, rut /
Chiefly British Dialect

verb (used with or without object)

to bellow; roar.

noun

a bellow.

Origin of rout

4
1250–1300; Middle English rowten < Old Norse rauta to bellow; akin to Latin rudere

Example sentences from the Web for rout

British Dictionary definitions for rout (1 of 2)

rout 1
/ (raʊt) /

noun

an overwhelming defeat
a disorderly retreat
a noisy rabble
law a group of three or more people proceeding to commit an illegal act
archaic a large party or social gathering

verb

(tr) to defeat and cause to flee in confusion

Word Origin for rout

C13: from Anglo-Norman rute, from Old French: disorderly band, from Latin ruptus broken, from rumpere to burst; see route

British Dictionary definitions for rout (2 of 2)

rout 2
/ (raʊt) /

verb

to dig over or turn up (something), esp (of an animal) with the snout; root
(tr ; usually foll by out or up) to get or find by searching
(tr usually foll by out) to force or drive out they routed him out of bed at midnight
(tr often foll by out) to hollow or gouge out
(intr) to search, poke, or rummage

Word Origin for rout

C16: variant of root ²