router

1 of 3

noun (1)

rout·​er ˈrau̇-tər 

: one that routs: such as

a

: a routing plane

b

: a machine with a revolving vertical spindle and cutter for milling out the surface of wood or metal

router

2 of 3

noun (2)

rout·​er ˈrü-tər 

ˈrau̇-

: one that routes

especially : a device that mediates the transmission routes of data packets over an electronic communications network (such as the Internet)

router

3 of 3

noun (3)

rout·​er ˈrü-tər 

ˈrau̇-

: a horse trained for distance races

Examples of router in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Perfect for streaming, gaming, and smart home setups, these routers offer robust security, speedy throughput, and expansive coverage. —Shubham Yewale, PCMAG, 12 July 2024

Wi-Fi signal strength can be tricky depending on where the router is placed. —Amy Young, The Arizona Republic, 12 June 2024

Image: Netgear The big benefit for these routers, as with most mesh Wi-Fi 7 routers, lies in Multi-Link Operation (MLO), a new feature in the Wi-Fi 7 standard that allows for simultaneous connections on two bands and, therefore, a faster, more stable connection. —Wes Davis, The Verge, 11 June 2024

The main router has two 10-Gbps ports and four 2.5-Gbps ports. —Simon Hill, WIRED, 4 June 2024

Word History

Etymology

Noun (1)

rout entry 4 + -er entry 2

Noun (2)

route entry 2 + -er entry 2

Noun (3)

route entry 1 (in sense "race of a mile or more") + -er entry 2

First Known Use

Noun (1)

1818, in the meaning defined above

Noun (2)

1903, in the meaning defined above

Noun (3)

circa 1951, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

router

1 of 2 noun

rout·​er ˈrau̇t-ər 

: a machine for cutting out the surface of wood or metal

router

2 of 2 noun

rout·​er ˈrüt-ər 

ˈrau̇t-

: one that routes

especially : a device that sends data from one place to another within a computer network or between computer networks