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

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

Ikitau and Wright completed the rout as many Welsh fans left early while there some boos from sections of the home crowd at the final whistle.

From BBC

They looked like title contenders Friday night, with Jack Thomas throwing for five touchdowns and running for another in a 56-21 rout of previously undefeated North Hollywood in the Division I quarterfinals.

From Los Angeles Times

They are coming off a 31-10 rout by the Buffalo Bills.

From Los Angeles Times

Israel has said its offensive in northern Gaza is to rout a Hamas resurgence.

From BBC

Related Words

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