(~er, ~est, ~s, ~ing, ~ed)
Frequency: The word is one of the 3000 most common words in English.
1.
If a surface is ~, it is uneven and not smooth.
His hands were ~ and calloused, from years of karate practice...
? smooth
ADJ
~ness
She rested her cheek against the ~ness of his jacket.
N-UNCOUNT
2.
You say that people or their actions are ~ when they use too much force and not enough care or gentleness.
Rugby’s a ~ game at the best of times...
? gentle
ADJ
~ly
A hand ~ly pushed him aside.
ADV
~ness
He regretted his ~ness.
N-UNCOUNT
3.
A ~ area, city, school, or other place is unpleasant and dangerous because there is a lot of violence or crime there.
It was quite a ~ part of our town.
ADJ
4.
If you say that someone has had a ~ time, you mean that they have had some difficult or unpleasant experiences.
All women have a ~ time in our society...
= tough
ADJ: usu ADJ n
5.
If you feel ~, you feel ill. (BRIT INFORMAL)
The virus won’t go away and the lad is still feeling a bit ~.
ADJ: v-link ADJ
6.
A ~ calculation or guess is approximately correct, but not exact.
We were only able to make a ~ estimate of how much fuel would be required...
= approximate
ADJ: usu ADJ n
~ly
Gambling and tourism pay ~ly half the entire state budget...
= approximately
ADV: ADV with cl/group
7.
If you give someone a ~ idea, description, or drawing of something, you indicate only the most important features, without much detail.
I’ve got a ~ idea of what he looks like...
ADJ
~ly
He knew ~ly what was about to be said...
Roughly speaking, a scientific humanist is somebody who believes in science and in humanity but not in God.
ADV: ADV with cl/group, ADV after v
8.
You can say that something is ~ when it is not neat and well made.
...a ~ wooden table.
ADJ
~ly
Roughly chop the tomatoes and add them to the casserole.
ADV: ADV with v
9.
If the sea or the weather at sea is ~, the weather is windy or stormy and there are very big waves.
A fishing vessel and a cargo ship collided in ~ seas.
? calm
ADJ
10.
When people sleep or live ~, they sleep out of doors, usually because they have no home. (BRIT)
It makes me so sad when I see young people begging or sleeping ~ on the streets.
ADV: ADV after v
11.
If you have to ~ it, you have to live without the possessions and comforts that you normally have.
You won’t be ~ing it; each room comes equipped with a telephone and a 3-channel radio.
VERB: V it
12.
~ justice: see justice