router

¹ American  

[roo-ter, rou-] / 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.

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router ² American  

[rou-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.

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verb (used with object)

1. to cut with a router.

router ¹ British  

/ ˈraʊtə /

noun

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

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router ² British  

/ ˈruːtə /

noun

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

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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.

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Etymology

Origin of router¹

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

Origin of router¹

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

Example Sentences

Also, it’s easy to forget that your Wi-Fi router is plugged into a modem, usually in some far corner of the house.

From The Wall Street Journal

Priorities for Cannon’s team included possible restrictions on sales by Chinese router maker TP-Link and activity by telecommunications companies China Telecom and China Unicom, some of the people said.

From The Wall Street Journal

You can also install it on your home router to protect every device connected to your Wi-Fi.

From Salon

The connected alarms can send push notifications to users' phones via their home internet router.

From BBC

AI could also serve as a social router, suggesting new connections.

From The Wall Street Journal