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   rough

   /rʌf/

   adjective

   • 1. having an uneven or irregular surface; not smooth or level: "they had to carry the victim across the rough, stony ground" Similar unevenirregularbumpystonyrockybrokenruggedjaggycraggyruttedpittedruttycoarsebristlyscratchypricklyshaggyhairyhirsutebushyfuzzygnarledknottylumpyknobblynodularrare:nodulousnodosedryleatheryweather-beatenchappedchafedcallousedscalyscabroustechnical:furfuraceousOpposite flatsmoothsmoothsleeksmooth
   • ▪ denoting the face of a tennis or squash racket on which the loops formed from the stringing process project (used as a call when the racket is spun to decide the right to serve first or to choose ends).
   • 2. (of a person or their behaviour) not gentle; violent or boisterous: "pushchairs should be capable of withstanding rough treatment" Similar violentbrutalviciousaggressivebelligerentpugnaciousthuggishboisterousrowdydisorderlyunrulyunrestrainedwildriotousundisciplinedunmanageableinformal:uglyradgecarelessclumsyineptunskilfulboorishloutishoafishbrutishcoarsecrudeuncouthrough-hewnroughcastvulgarunrefinedunladylikeungentlemanlyunculturedill-bredill-manneredunmannerlyimpolitechurlishdiscourteousuncivilungraciousrudebrusquebluntcurtOpposite gentlepassivecarefulculturedcivilizedrefined
   • ▪ (of an area or occasion) characterized by violent behaviour: "the workmen hate going to the rough estates"
   • ▪ (of weather or the sea) wild and stormy: "the lifeboat crew braved rough seas to rescue a couple" Similar turbulentstormystorm-tossedtempestuousviolentheavyheavingragingchoppyagitatedinformal:rollystormywildtempestuoussquallywetrainywindyblusteryfoulfilthynastyinclementunpleasantdisagreeableOpposite calmfine
   • 3. not finished tidily or decoratively; plain and basic: "the customers sat at rough wooden tables" Similar plainbasicsimplerough and readyrusticrudecrudeprimitivespartanuncomfortableOpposite luxurious
   • ▪ put together as a temporary measure; makeshift: "he had one arm in a rough sling"
   • ▪ lacking sophistication or refinement: "she took care of him in her rough, kindly way" Similar boorishloutishoafishbrutishcoarsecrudeuncouthrough-hewnroughcastvulgarunrefinedunladylikeungentlemanlyunculturedill-bredill-manneredunmannerlyimpolitechurlishdiscourteousuncivilungraciousrudebrusquebluntcurtOpposite culturedcivilizedrefined
   • ▪ not fully worked out or including every detail: "he had a rough draft of his new novel" Similar preliminaryhastyquicksketchycursorybasiccruderudimentaryrough and readyrawunpolishedunrefinedincompleteunfinisheduncompletedOpposite finishedperfected
   • ▪ (of stationery) used for making preliminary notes: "rough paper"
   • 4. (of a voice) harsh and rasping: "his voice was rough with barely suppressed fury" Similar gruffhoarseharshraspingraspyhuskythroatygravellygutturalraucousdiscordantcacophonousgratingjarringstridentharshdissonantunmusicalinharmoniousunmelodiousOpposite softdulcet
   • ▪ (of wine or another alcoholic drink) sharp or harsh in taste: "he refilled the mug with rough cider" Similar sharp-tastingsharpsouracidicacidvinegaryrare:acidulousOpposite sweetmellow
   • 5. not exact or precise; approximate: "they had a rough idea of when the murder took place" Similar approximateinexactestimatedimprecisecoarse-grainedvaguegeneralhazyinformal:ballparkOpposite exactaccurateprecise
   • 6. difficult and unpleasant or unfair: informal "the teachers gave me a rough time because my image didn't fit" Similar difficulthardtoughbadunpleasantdemandingarduousOpposite easypleasant
   • ▪ unwell: "the altitude had hit her and she was feeling rough" Similar illunwellpoorlybadout of sortsindisposednot oneselfsickqueasynauseousnauseatedpeakyliverishgreen around the gillsrun downwashed outfaintdizzygiddylight-headedoffoff colourinformal:under the weatherbelow parnot up to parfunnypeculiarlousyrottenawfulterribledreadfulcrummygrottyropywabbitpeely-wallycrookvulgar slang:crappydated:seedyrare:peakedpeakishOpposite wellokay

   adverb

   • 1. in a manner that lacks gentleness; harshly or violently: informal "treat 'em rough but treat 'em fair"

   noun

   • 1. a disreputable and violent person: British "the rear of the column was attacked by roughs" Similar ruffianthuglouthooliganhoodlumrowdybully boybrawlerlarrikininformal:toughroughneckbruisergorillayahooyobyobbobovver boylager loutchavradgekeelienedroughielout
   • 2. (on a golf course) longer grass around the fairway and the green: "his second shot lay in the rough"
   • 3. a preliminary sketch: "I did a rough to work out the scale of the lettering" Similar preliminary sketchdraftoutlinemock-upmodelartist's impression
   • 4. an uncut precious stone: "miners discovered one of the biggest diamond roughs in history"

   verb

   • 1. work or shape (something) in a rough, preliminary fashion: "the piece of glass is now roughed into a circular form"
   • 2. make uneven: "the water was roughed by the wind"
   • 3. live in discomfort with only basic necessities: informal "she'd had to rough it alone in digs"

   Word Origin Old Englishrūh, of West Germanic origin; related to Dutch ruw and German rauh.

   Derivatives

   • 1. roughish adjective

   Scrabble Points: 9

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