| rout 1 (rout) n. 1. a. A disorderly retreat or flight following defeat. b. An overwhelming defeat. 2. a. A disorderly crowd of people; a mob. b. People of the lowest class; rabble. 3. A public disturbance; a riot. 4. A company, as of knights or wolves, that are in movement. See Synonyms at flock1. 5. A fashionable gathering. tr.v. rout·ed, rout·ing, routs 1. To put to disorderly flight or retreat: "the flock of starlings which Jasper had routed with his gun" (Virginia Woolf). 2. To defeat overwhelmingly. See Synonyms at defeat. [Middle English route, from Old French, troop, defeat, from Vulgar Latin *rupta, from feminine of Latin ruptus, past participle of rumpere, to break; see reup- in Indo-European roots.] |
| rout 2 (rout) v. rout·ed, rout·ing, routs v.intr. 1. To dig with the snout; root. 2. To poke around; rummage. v.tr. 1. To expose to view as if by digging; uncover. 2. To hollow, scoop, or gouge out. 3. To drive or force out as if by digging; eject: rout out an informant. 4. Archaic To dig up with the snout. [Variant of root.] |
rout 3 (rout, r t)intr.v. rout·ed, rout·ing, routs Chiefly British To bellow. Used of cattle. [Middle English routen, to roar, from Old Norse rauta.] |
Translations
Want to thank TFD for its existence? Tell a friend about us, add a link to this page, add the site to iGoogle, or visit the webmaster's page for free fun content.
| ?Page tools | ||
|---|---|---|
|