Standard Lemma guide

router

noun · verb · 12 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

Each Play button uses your device's default local English voice, or a natural local fallback. The selected voice name appears after playback. This is synthesized speech, not a source recording.

  • Received-Pronunciation: /ˈɹuː.tə(ɹ)/
  • General-American: /ˈɹaʊ.tɚ/
  • UK: Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
  • US: Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
  • rhymes with -uːtə(ɹ)
  • rhymes with -aʊtə(ɹ)
  • UK: /ˈɹaʊtə(ɹ)/
  • US: /ˈɹaʊtɚ/
  • CMU ARPABET: R UW1 T ER0 Digits mark lexical stress: 1 primary, 2 secondary, 0 unstressed.
  • CMU ARPABET 2: R AW1 T ER0 Digits mark lexical stress: 1 primary, 2 secondary, 0 unstressed.

1

noun

Meaning 1

Someone who routes or directs items from one location to another.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Examples

  • The router directed the movement of the company's trucks.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

noun

Meaning 2

Any device that directs packets of information using the equivalent of Open Systems Interconnection layer 3 (network layer) information. Most commonly used in reference to Internet Protocol routers.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Topics: communications, electrical-engineering, engineering, natural-sciences, physical-sciences, telecommunications

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

3

noun

Meaning 3

A device that connects local area networks to form a larger internet by, at minimum, selectively passing those datagrams having a destination IP address to the network which is able to deliver them to their destination; a network gateway.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: Internet

Examples

  • The router was configured to forward packets outside of a certain range of IP addresses to its internet uplink port.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

4

noun

Meaning 4

In integrated circuit or printed circuit board design, an algorithm for adding all wires needed to properly connect all of the placed components while obeying all design rules.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Qualifier: electronic design automation

Topics: business, electrical-engineering, electricity, electromagnetism, electronics, energy, engineering, natural-sciences, physical-sciences, physics

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

5

noun

Meaning 5

A list and record of instructions that follows a part in a manufacturing process.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: traveller

Antonyms: none provided

6

noun

Meaning 6

A power tool used in carpentry for cutting grooves.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Examples

  • He made an attractive edge on the table with a router.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

7

noun

Meaning 7

A plane made like a spokeshave, for working the inside edges of circular sashes.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

8

noun

Meaning 8

A plane with a hooked tool protruding far below the sole, for smoothing the bottom of a cavity.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

9

verb

Meaning 9

to hollow out or cut using a router power tool.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

10

noun

Meaning 10

a power tool with a shaped cutter; used in carpentry for cutting grooves

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: power tool

11

noun

Meaning 11

(computer science) a device that forwards data packets between computer networks

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: device

12

noun

Meaning 12

a worker who routes shipments for distribution and delivery

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: skilled worker, trained worker, skilled workman

History

Etymology

From route + -er.

From rout + -er.

Across languages

Translations

134 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Finnish: reitittäjä — someone who routes or directs items from one location to another
  • Swedish: logistiker — someone who routes or directs items from one location to another
  • Belarusian: маршрутыза́тар (maršrutyzátar) — device that directs packets of information
  • Czech: směrovač — device that directs packets of information
  • Danish: router — device that directs packets of information
  • Dhivehi: ރައުޓަރު (rauṭaru) — device that directs packets of information
  • Dhivehi: ރައުޓަރުތައް (rauṭarutak̊) — device that directs packets of information
  • Estonian: ruuter — device that directs packets of information
  • Finnish: reititin — device that directs packets of information
  • German: Router — device that directs packets of information
  • Greek: δρομολογητής (dromologitís) — device that directs packets of information
  • Icelandic: beinir — device that directs packets of information
  • Māori: pouara — device that directs packets of information
  • Marathi: राउटर (rāuṭar) — device that directs packets of information
  • Portuguese: roteador — device that directs packets of information
  • Portuguese: router — device that directs packets of information
  • Russian: маршрутиза́тор (maršrutizátor) — device that directs packets of information
  • Spanish: router — device that directs packets of information
  • Spanish: enrutador — device that directs packets of information
  • Spanish: ruteador — device that directs packets of information
  • Spanish: direccionador — device that directs packets of information
  • Spanish: rúter — device that directs packets of information
  • Ukrainian: маршрутиза́тор (maršrutyzátor) — device that directs packets of information
  • Albanian: router — device that connects local area networks to form a larger internet
  • Arabic: راوْتَر (rāwtar) — device that connects local area networks to form a larger internet
  • Arabic: مُوَجَّه (muwajjah) — device that connects local area networks to form a larger internet
  • Armenian: երթուղիչ (ertʻuġičʻ) — device that connects local area networks to form a larger internet
  • Azerbaijani: yönləndirici — device that connects local area networks to form a larger internet
  • Belarusian: маршрутыза́тар (maršrutyzátar) — device that connects local area networks to form a larger internet
  • Belarusian: ра́ўтар (ráwtar) — device that connects local area networks to form a larger internet
  • Belarusian: ру́тар (rútar) — device that connects local area networks to form a larger internet
  • Belarusian: ро́ўтар (rówtar) — device that connects local area networks to form a larger internet
  • Bengali: রাউটার (rauṭar) — device that connects local area networks to form a larger internet
  • Bulgarian: маршрутиза́тор (maršrutizátor) — device that connects local area networks to form a larger internet
  • Bulgarian: ру́тер (rúter) — device that connects local area networks to form a larger internet
  • Burmese: ရောက်တာ (raukta) — device that connects local area networks to form a larger internet
  • Chinese Cantonese: 路由器 (lou6 jau4 hei3) — device that connects local area networks to form a larger internet
  • Chinese Cantonese: 路徑器 /路径器 (lou6 ging3 hei3) — device that connects local area networks to form a larger internet
  • Chinese Mandarin: 路由器 (lùyóuqì) — device that connects local area networks to form a larger internet
  • Chinese Mandarin: 路徑器 /路径器 (lùjìngqì) — device that connects local area networks to form a larger internet
  • Czech: směrovač — device that connects local area networks to form a larger internet
  • Czech: router — device that connects local area networks to form a larger internet
  • Danish: router — device that connects local area networks to form a larger internet
  • Dhivehi: ރައުޓަރު (rauṭaru) — device that connects local area networks to form a larger internet
  • Dhivehi: ރައުޓަރުތައް (rauṭarutak̊) — device that connects local area networks to form a larger internet
  • Dutch: router — device that connects local area networks to form a larger internet
  • Estonian: ruuter — device that connects local area networks to form a larger internet
  • Estonian: marsruuter — device that connects local area networks to form a larger internet
  • Finnish: reititin — device that connects local area networks to form a larger internet
  • French: routeur — device that connects local area networks to form a larger internet
  • Georgian: როუტერი (rouṭeri) — device that connects local area networks to form a larger internet
  • Georgian: მარშრუტიზატორი (maršruṭizaṭori) — device that connects local area networks to form a larger internet
  • German: Router — device that connects local area networks to form a larger internet
  • Greek: δρομολογητής (dromologitís) — device that connects local area networks to form a larger internet
  • Hebrew: נַתָּב (nátav) — device that connects local area networks to form a larger internet
  • Hindi: राउटर (rāuṭar) — device that connects local area networks to form a larger internet
  • Hungarian: útválasztó — device that connects local area networks to form a larger internet
  • Hungarian: router — device that connects local area networks to form a larger internet
  • Icelandic: beinir — device that connects local area networks to form a larger internet
  • Indonesian: penghala — device that connects local area networks to form a larger internet
  • Italian: router — device that connects local area networks to form a larger internet
  • Italian: instradatore — device that connects local area networks to form a larger internet
  • Italian: indirizzatore — device that connects local area networks to form a larger internet
  • Italian: smistatore — device that connects local area networks to form a larger internet
  • Japanese: ルータ (rūta) — device that connects local area networks to form a larger internet
  • Japanese: ルーター (rūtā) — device that connects local area networks to form a larger internet
  • Kazakh: маршруттауыш (marşruttauyş) — device that connects local area networks to form a larger internet
  • Khmer: រ៉ោតទ័រ (raottɔə) — device that connects local area networks to form a larger internet
  • Korean: 라우터 (rauteo) — device that connects local area networks to form a larger internet
  • Kyrgyz: роутер (router) — device that connects local area networks to form a larger internet
  • Kyrgyz: раутер (rauter) — device that connects local area networks to form a larger internet
  • Kyrgyz: рутер (ruter) — device that connects local area networks to form a larger internet
  • Kyrgyz: маршрутизатор (marşrutizator) — device that connects local area networks to form a larger internet
  • Lao: ເຣົາເຕີຣ໌ (rao tœ̄n) — device that connects local area networks to form a larger internet
  • Latvian: maršrutētājs — device that connects local area networks to form a larger internet
  • Lithuanian: maršrutizatorius — device that connects local area networks to form a larger internet
  • Macedonian: рутер (ruter) — device that connects local area networks to form a larger internet
  • Malay: penghala — device that connects local area networks to form a larger internet
  • Marathi: राउटर (rāuṭar) — device that connects local area networks to form a larger internet
  • Mongolian: рүүтэр (rüüter) — device that connects local area networks to form a larger internet
  • Mongolian: раутер (rauter) — device that connects local area networks to form a larger internet
  • Mongolian: рутер (ruter) — device that connects local area networks to form a larger internet
  • Mongolian: роутер (router) — device that connects local area networks to form a larger internet
  • Mongolian: чиглүүлэгч (čiglüülegč) — device that connects local area networks to form a larger internet
  • Norwegian Bokmål: ruter — device that connects local area networks to form a larger internet
  • Persian: رهیاب — device that connects local area networks to form a larger internet
  • Persian: روتر (rowter) — device that connects local area networks to form a larger internet
  • Persian: مسیریاب — device that connects local area networks to form a larger internet
  • Polish: router — device that connects local area networks to form a larger internet
  • Polish: ruter — device that connects local area networks to form a larger internet
  • Polish: trasownik — device that connects local area networks to form a larger internet
  • Portuguese: roteador — device that connects local area networks to form a larger internet
  • Portuguese: router — device that connects local area networks to form a larger internet
  • Romanian: ruter — device that connects local area networks to form a larger internet
  • Russian: маршрутиза́тор (maršrutizátor) — device that connects local area networks to form a larger internet
  • Russian: ра́утер (ráuter) — device that connects local area networks to form a larger internet
  • Russian: ру́тер (rúter) — device that connects local area networks to form a larger internet
  • Russian: ро́утер (róuter) — device that connects local area networks to form a larger internet
  • Serbo-Croatian: рутер — device that connects local area networks to form a larger internet
  • Serbo-Croatian: ruter — device that connects local area networks to form a larger internet
  • Sinhalese: රවුටරය (rawuṭaraya) — device that connects local area networks to form a larger internet
  • Slovak: smerovač — device that connects local area networks to form a larger internet
  • Slovak: router — device that connects local area networks to form a larger internet
  • Slovene: usmerjevalnik — device that connects local area networks to form a larger internet
  • Spanish: router — device that connects local area networks to form a larger internet
  • Spanish: enrutador — device that connects local area networks to form a larger internet
  • Spanish: ruteador — device that connects local area networks to form a larger internet
  • Spanish: direccionador — device that connects local area networks to form a larger internet
  • Spanish: rúter — device that connects local area networks to form a larger internet
  • Swedish: router — device that connects local area networks to form a larger internet
  • Tagalog: router — device that connects local area networks to form a larger internet
  • Tajik: маршрутизатор (maršrutizator) — device that connects local area networks to form a larger internet
  • Thai: เราเตอร์ (rao-dtə̂ə) — device that connects local area networks to form a larger internet
  • Turkish: yönlendirici — device that connects local area networks to form a larger internet
  • Turkmen: marşrutizator — device that connects local area networks to form a larger internet
  • Ukrainian: маршрутиза́тор (maršrutyzátor) — device that connects local area networks to form a larger internet
  • Ukrainian: ра́утер (ráuter) — device that connects local area networks to form a larger internet
  • Ukrainian: ру́тер (rúter) — device that connects local area networks to form a larger internet
  • Urdu: راؤٹر (rāuṭar) — device that connects local area networks to form a larger internet
  • Uzbek: marshrutizator — device that connects local area networks to form a larger internet
  • Vietnamese: router — device that connects local area networks to form a larger internet
  • Vietnamese: cầu dẫn — device that connects local area networks to form a larger internet
  • Vietnamese: bộ định tuyến — device that connects local area networks to form a larger internet
  • Zhuang: luyouzgi — device that connects local area networks to form a larger internet
  • Finnish: reititin — algorithm
  • Dutch: frees — power tool
  • Dutch: bovenfrees — power tool
  • Finnish: yläjyrsin — power tool
  • French: défonceuse — power tool
  • German: Oberfräse — power tool
  • Portuguese: tupia — power tool
  • Russian: фре́зер (frézer) — power tool
  • Spanish: fresadora — power tool
  • Swedish: överfräs — power tool
Real reading context

router in complete knowledge articles