rote Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. noun memorization by repetition
    rote learning.

WordNet

Rote noun
Definitions
  1. A root. Obs. Chaucer.
Rote noun
Etymology
OE. rote, probably of German origin; cf. MHG. rotte, OHG. rota, hrota, LL. chrotta. Cf. Crowd a kind of violin.
Definitions
  1. (Mus.) A kind of guitar, the notes of which were produced by a small wheel or wheel-like arrangement; an instrument similar to the hurdy-gurdy.
    Well could he sing and play on a rote. Chaucer.
    extracting mistuned dirges from their harps, crowds, and rotes. Sir W. Scott.
Rote noun
Etymology
Cf. Rut roaring.
Definitions
  1. The noise produced by the surf of the sea dashing upon the shore. See Rut.
Rote noun
Etymology
OF. rote, F. route, road, path. See Route, and cf. Rut a furrow, Routine.
Definitions
  1. A frequent repetition of forms of speech without attention to the meaning; mere repetition; as, to learn rules by rote. Swift.
    till he the first verse could [i. e., knew] all by rote. Chaucer.
    Thy love did read by rote, and could not spell. Shak.
Rote transitive verb
Wordforms
imperfect & past participle Roted; present participle & verbal noun Roting
Definitions
  1. To learn or repeat by rote. Obs. Shak.
Rote intransitive verb
Definitions
  1. To go out by rotation or succession; to rotate. Obs. Z. Grey.

Webster 1913