a root.-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.-the noise produced by the surf of the sea dashing upon the shore. see rut.-a frequent repetition of forms of speech without attention to the meaning; mere repetition; as, to learn rules by rote.-to learn or repeat by rote.-to go out by rotation or succession; to rotate.