router

¹ American  

[rau-ter] / ˈraʊ tər /

noun

1. any of various tools or machines for routing, hollowing out, or furrowing.

2. Also called router plane. Carpentry. a plane for cutting interior angles, as at the bottom of a groove.

3. a machine or tool for cutting into or below a main surface, as of a die or engraving plate.

---

verb (used with object)

1. to cut with a router.

router ² American  

[roo-ter, rau-] / ˈru tər, ˈraʊ- /

noun

1. a person or thing that routes.

2. a piece of hardware or software having a specific IP address and connected to network nodes for the transfer of data between computers.

---

router ¹ British  

/ ˈraʊtə /

noun

1. any of various tools or machines for hollowing out, cutting grooves, etc

---

router ² British  

/ ˈruːtə /

noun

1. computing a device that allows packets of data to be moved efficiently between two points on a network

---

router Scientific  

/ rou′tər /

1. A device in a network that handles message transfers between computers. A router receives information and forwards it based on what the router determines to be the most efficient route at the time of transfer.

---

Etymology

Origin of router¹

First recorded in 1840–50; rout ² + -er ¹

Origin of router²

First recorded in 1900–05; route + -er ¹

---

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

router

Connected devices routinely send information back to the router to help optimize wireless communication.

From Science Daily ● Aug. 12, 2026

So I decided on the $40-a-month plan and bought a $26 router online.

From MarketWatch ● Aug. 11, 2026

“You don’t always have to send those routine tasks to the bigger model, but the router will continuously balance quality, latency, and cost,” Briski said.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 11, 2026

The US company Shaper makes a handheld CNC router, as well as digital solutions that allow for straightforward scanning and designing before cutting.

From BBC ● May 11, 2026

Nurse Evil turns off the router and our communication ends.

From "Everything, Everything" by Nicola Yoon

Random Word

Spin the wheel and learn a new word!

---