Rout

v. defeat overwhelmingly, conquer; force out, drive away

n. populace, rabble, mob; commotion, public disturbance; overwhelming defeat

A rout is commonly defined as a chaotic and disorderly retreat or withdrawal of troops from a battlefield, resulting in the victory of the opposing party, or following defeat, a collapse of discipline, or poor morale. A routed army often degenerates into a sense of "every man for himself" as the surviving combatants attempt to flee to safety. A disorganized rout often results in much higher casualties for the retreating force than an orderly withdrawal. On many occasions, more soldiers are killed in the rout than in the actual battle. Normally, though not always, routs either effectively end a battle, or provide the decisive victory the winner needs to gain the momentum with which to end a battle in their favor.
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Noun
1. a disorderly crowd of people
(synonym) mob, rabble
(hypernym) crowd
(hyponym) lynch mob
2. an overwhelming defeat
(hypernym) defeat, licking
(derivation) spread-eagle, spreadeagle
Verb
1. cause to flee; "rout out the fighters from their caves"
(synonym) rout out, expel
(hypernym) get the better of, overcome, defeat
2. dig with the snout; "the pig was rooting for truffles"
(synonym) root, rootle
(hypernym) dig, delve, cut into, turn over
3. make a groove in
(synonym) gouge
(hypernym) hollow, hollow out, core out
4. defeat disastrously
(synonym) spread-eagle, spreadeagle
(hypernym) beat, beat out, crush, shell, trounce, vanquish

(v. t.)
To scoop out with a gouge or other tool; to furrow.
  

(v. t.)
To break the ranks of, as troops, and put them to flight in disorder; to put to rout.
  

(v. i.)
To search or root in the ground, as a swine.
  

(v. i.)
To roar; to bellow; to snort; to snore loudly.
  

(v. i.)
To assemble in a crowd, whether orderly or disorderly; to collect in company.
  

(n.)
The state of being disorganized and thrown into confusion; -- said especially of an army defeated, broken in pieces, and put to flight in disorder or panic; also, the act of defeating and breaking up an army; as, the rout of the enemy was complete.
  

(n.)
A troop; a throng; a company; an assembly; especially, a traveling company or throng.
  

(n.)
A fashionable assembly, or large evening party.
  

(n.)
A disturbance of the peace by persons assembled together with intent to do a thing which, if executed, would make them rioters, and actually making a motion toward the executing thereof.
  

(n.)
A disorderly and tumultuous crowd; a mob; hence, the rabble; the herd of common people.
  

(n.)
A bellowing; a shouting; noise; clamor; uproar; disturbance; tumult.
  

A common law and public order criminal offence which has gone beyond an unlawful assembly in that some action has been taken towards either the crime intended or the disturbance of the peace. - (read more on Rout)