rout

¹

[ rout ]

noun

1. a defeat attended with disorderly flight; dispersal of a defeated force in complete disorder:

   to put an army to rout; to put reason to rout.

2. any overwhelming defeat:

   a rout of the home team by the state champions.

3. a tumultuous or disorderly crowd of persons.

   Synonyms: horde, swarm

4. the rabble or mob.
5. Law. a disturbance of the public peace by three or more persons acting together in a manner that suggests an intention to riot although they do not actually carry out the intention.
6. a large, formal evening party or social gathering.
7. Archaic. a company or band of people.

verb (used with object)

1. to disperse in defeat and disorderly flight:

   to rout an army.

2. to defeat decisively:

   to rout an opponent in conversation.

   Synonyms: subdue, overcome, overwhelm

rout

²

[ rout ]

verb (used without object)

1. to root:

   pigs routing in the garden.

2. to poke, search, or rummage.

verb (used with object)

1. to turn over or dig up (something) with the snout.
2. to find or get by searching, rummaging, etc. (usually followed by out ).
3. to cause to rise from bed (often followed by up or out ).
4. to force or drive out.
5. to hollow out or furrow, as with a scoop, gouge, or machine.

rout

³

[ rout ]

verb (used without object)

, Archaic.

1. to snore.

rout

⁴

[ rout, root ]

verb (used with or without object)

1. to bellow; roar.

noun

1. a bellow.

rout

¹

/ raʊt /

noun

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

verb

1. tr to defeat and cause to flee in confusion

rout

²

/ raʊt /

verb

1. to dig over or turn up (something), esp (of an animal) with the snout; root
2. tr; usually foll by out or up to get or find by searching
3. trusually foll byout to force or drive out

   they routed him out of bed at midnight

4. troften foll byout to hollow or gouge out
5. intr to search, poke, or rummage

Word History and Origins

Origin of rout¹

First recorded in 1200–50; (noun) Middle English, from Anglo-French rute, Old French route “a fraction, detachment,” from Latin rupta, feminine past participle of rumpere “to break”; (verb) derivative of the noun

Origin of rout²

First recorded in 1540–50; alteration of root ²; compare Middle Dutch ruten “to root out”

Origin of rout³

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

Origin of rout⁴

First recorded in 1250–1300; Middle English rowten, from Old Norse rauta “to bellow”; akin to Latin rudere

Word History and Origins

Origin of rout¹

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

Origin of rout²

C16: variant of root ²

Example Sentences

Now the superstar running back is assembling an MVP-caliber season for the Philadelphia Eagles, setting a franchise record Sunday night with 255 yards rushing in a 37-20 rout of the Rams.

From Los Angeles Times

Pec got the rout started 27 seconds after kickoff, running on to Puig’s long, bending-through ball from the center circle, battling defender Jefferson Diaz for control in the penalty area, then beating Minnesota keeper Dayne St. Clair with a left-footed shot to the far post.

From Los Angeles Times

Near the end of UCLA’s 34-17 rout, ABC broadcasters Gary Danielson and Brad Nessler, nicknamed it “Foster’s freeze” in honor of the freshman putting USC’s upset bid on ice.

From Los Angeles Times

According to Gallup, on the eve of the election in 1996, just 39 percent said they were satisfied with how things were going in the country, but Bill Clinton won reelection in a rout.

From Salon

The Detroit Lions are looking unstoppable in the NFC as they recorded the biggest win in their history with a 52-6 rout of the Jacksonville Jaguars - who suffered their heaviest defeat as they slumped to 2-9.

From BBC

Related Words

• beat
• chase
• clobber
• conquer
• crush
• destroy
• expel
• finish
• kill
• overpower
• repulse
• subdue
• trounce
• vanquish
• whip
• wipe out