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rote - What does it mean?

Definition of 'rote'

English

Etymology 1

From (etyl), origin uncertain. Likely from the phrase (see (rotary)), but the calls both suggestions groundless.

Noun

(-)
  • The process of learning or committing something to memory through mechanical repetition, usually by hearing and repeating aloud, often without full attention to comprehension or thought for the meaning.
    • They didn’t have copies of the music for everyone, so most of us had to learn the song by rote .
  • * 2009 , Jim Holt], ''[http://www.nytimes.com/2009/04/05/books/review/Holt-t.html?_r=2&8bu&emc=bub1 Got Poetry?
    • But memorize them we did, in big painful chunks, by rote repetition.
  • Mechanical routine; a fixed, habitual, repetitive, or mechanical course of procedure.
    • The pastoral scenes from those commercials don’t bear too much resemblance to the rote of daily life on a farm.
    Usage notes
    * Commonly found in the phrase "by rote" and in attributive use: "rote learning", "rote memorization", and so on. * Often used pejoratively in comparison with "deeper" learning that leads to "understanding".
    Derived terms
    * rotelike * rotely
    See also
    * muscle memory

    Adjective

    (en-adj)
  • By repetition or practice.
  • *

    • Verb

    (rot)
  • (obsolete) To go out by rotation or succession; to rotate.
    • (Zane Grey)
  • To learn or repeat by rote.
    • (Shakespeare)

    Etymology 2

    c. 1600, from (etyl) .

    Noun

    (-)
  • (rare) The roar of the surf; the sound of waves breaking on the shore.

    • Etymology 3

    (etyl) rote, probably of German origin; compare Middle High German (rotte), and English .

    Noun

    (en-noun)
  • 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.
  • * Sir Walter Scott
    • extracting mistuned dirges from their harps, crowds, and rotes

    Anagrams

    * ----

    Similar to 'rote'

    rite, ride, rode, rate, rude, route, rete, rede, retie, rathe, rade, redye, retee, raite, radde, rethe, rudie, redie, rothe