ETYM French, from route a path, way, road. Related to Route, Roterepetition.
1. A set sequence of steps, part of larger computer program; SYN. subroutine, subprogram, procedure, function.
2. An unvarying or habitual method of procedure; SYN. modus operandi.

Occurring at fixed times or predictable intervals

Any section of code that can be invoked (executed) within a program. A routine usually has a name (identifier) associated with it and is executed by referencing that name. Related terms (which may or may not be exact synonyms, depending on the context) are function, procedure, and subroutine. See also function (definition 3), procedure, subroutine.