route

/ruːt/
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A way taken toward a place or result, and the act of sending something along that way.

Examples

  • Traffic was routed around the accident.
  • The dispatcher routed the ambulance along quieter streets.
  • The app can route you past the roadworks.
  • Flooding blocked the main route north.
  • All requests are routed through a secure server.

Similar words

send
itinerary
passage
dispatch
forward
path
direct
way
divert
channel

Meanings

Way or course to a destination

noun
travel
neutral
The way followed between places, or a course used to reach a result.

Examples

  • This bus takes the fastest route to the airport.
  • We planned a scenic route through the hills.
  • Which route should I take?
  • Flooding blocked the main route north.
  • Education can be a route out of poverty.
  • The system routes calls to the right office.

Similar words

Send along a chosen course

verb
transport
neutral
To send a person, vehicle, message, or item along a particular way or through particular points.

Examples

  • Please route this package through Madrid.
  • Traffic was routed around the accident.
  • The app can route you past the roadworks.
  • All requests are routed through a secure server.
  • The dispatcher routed the ambulance along quieter streets.

Similar words

Etymology

From Old French route, ‘road’ or ‘way’, ultimately from Latin rupta, referring to a way opened or broken through. The verb developed from the noun.

FAQ

What does route mean?

A route is a way from one place to another or a course toward a result.

Can route be a verb?

Yes. To route something is to send or direct it along a chosen course.

Can a route be nonphysical?

Yes. A course of education, action, or communication can be a route to a result.

What is the difference between a route and a road?

A road is a physical surface, while a route is the course followed and may use several roads.

How is route used in computing?

Systems route data by directing it through networks toward its destination.

Where does route come from?

It came through Old French from a Latin word connected with a way opened through the land.

How is route pronounced?

In General American English, route is pronounced /ruːt/. The pronunciation /raʊt/ is also common in North America.

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