Repetitive routine (4)
I believe the answer is:
rote
'repetitive routine' is the definition.
(I've seen this in another clue)
This is all the clue.
(Other definitions for rote that I've seen before include "Learn by . . . . to have off by heart" , "Mechanical procedure" , "performance based solely on routine" , "Way of learning" , "By . . . . - from memory without thought" .)