route

¹route

noun \ˈrüt, ˈrau̇t\

Definition of ROUTE

1

a : a traveled way : highway <the main route north>

b : a means of access : channel <the route to social mobility — T. F. O'Dea>

2

: a line of travel : course

3

a : an established or selected course of travel or action

b : an assigned territory to be systematically covered <a newspaper route>

Examples of ROUTE

1. We didn't know what route to take.
2. an escape route in case of fire
3. a major bird migratory route
4. You could take a different route and still arrive at the same conclusion.
5. Take Route 2 into town.
6. We live on a rural route.

Origin of ROUTE

Middle English, from Anglo-French rute, from Vulgar Latin *rupta (via), literally, broken way, from Latin rupta, feminine of ruptus, past participle

First Known Use: 13th century

Related to ROUTE

Synonyms

arterial, artery, avenue, boulevard, carriageway [British], drag, drive, expressway, freeway, high road, highway, pass, pike, road, roadway, way, row, street, thoroughfare, thruway, trace, turnpike

Related Words

causeway; autobahn, autoroute, autostrada, dual carriageway [chiefly British], interstate, motorway [chiefly British], superhighway; beltway, bypass, parkway, ring road [chiefly British]; corniche, switchback; through street; high street [British], Main Street; backstreet, branch, bystreet, byway, crossroad, secondary road, shunpike, side road, side street; alley, alleyway; circle, lane, laneway [British], mews [chiefly British], place; close [chiefly British], cul-de-sac, dead end; corridor; track, trail

Rhymes with ROUTE

bout, clout, doubt, drought, flout, glout, gout, grout, knout, kraut, lout, out, pout, rout, scout, shout, snout, spout, sprout, stout, tout, trout

²route

transitive verb

rout·edrout·ing

Definition of ROUTE

1

: to send by a selected route : direct <was routed along the scenic shore road>

2

: to divert in a specified direction

Examples of ROUTE

1. Traffic was routed around the accident.
2. When the doctor is out, his calls are routed to his answering service.

First Known Use of ROUTE

1832

Related to ROUTE

Synonyms

conduct, direct, guide, marshal (also marshall), pilot, lead, show, steer, usher

Antonyms

follow, trail

Related Words

precede; accompany, attend, chaperone (or chaperon), convoy, escort, see; control, manage

Near Antonyms

dog, hound, shadow, tail, tailgate

route

noun \ˈrüt, ˈrau̇t\   (Medical Dictionary)

Medical Definition of ROUTE

: a method of transmitting a disease or of administering a remedy <the airborne route of…infection—M. L. Furcolow>