rout Definition

rout¹
verb routed, routing

1. To defeat (an army, troops, a sporting team, etc) completely.

Thesaurus: defeat, destroy, overthrow, beat, crush, conquer, subdue, subjugate.
2. To make (an army, troops, etc) retreat in disorderly confusion.

Thesaurus: repel, repulse, dispel, scatter.

noun

1. A complete and overwhelming defeat.

Thesaurus: defeat, ruin, debacle; Antonym: victory.
2. A confused and disorderly retreat.

Thesaurus: flight, exodus, retreat, panic, riot, stampede, evacuation.
3. law.
A group of three or more people gathered together to commit a crime or some unlawful act.
4. A disorderly and noisy group of people.

Etymology: 13c: from French route, from Latin rupta a detachment.

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rout²
verb routed, routing

tr & intr
1. To dig something up, especially (said of animals) with the snout.
2. To find or fetch them by searching.

Form: rout someone out (usually)
Form: rout someone up

Etymology: 16c variant of root².