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

Example Sentences

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Hex by Origin Wireless is a smart security system that uses the tech and Linksys Wi-Fi routers can detect motion in your home. —Jennifer Pattison Tuohy, The Verge, 12 May 2023

There are routers and cutters and lasers that make our work more efficient and accurate. —Dale Buss, Forbes, 31 Mar. 2023

So Eyal bought a cheap gizmo that plugged into an electrical outlet and automatically shut off his home internet router at 10 o’clock each night. —Shira Ovide, Washington Post, 28 Oct. 2022

The clever thing about MRKL is a module called a router that takes a question from a user and figures out what kind of information the user is seeking. —Jonathan Vanian, Fortune, 19 Apr. 2022

The router report comes six months after the Senate's contractor for a review of 2.1 million Maricopa County ballots found no fraud in the November 2020 election. —Mary Jo Pitzl, The Arizona Republic, 23 Mar. 2022

One solution that is already in the works leverages the wireless signals emanating from Wi-Fi routers and access points. —Scientific American, 1 Dec. 2021

Upgrading your router is one of the best ways to upgrade your home internet experience. —Scott Gilbertson, Wired, 28 Nov. 2021

On July 26, Senate Republicans filed a new subpoena for the county’s routers and other election items, as well as a subpoena to Dominion Voting Systems. —Ryan Randazzo, The Arizona Republic, 4 May 2023

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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