I. rough 1 S2 W3 /rʌf/ BrE AmE adjective ( comparative rougher , superlative roughest )
[ Word Family: noun : ↑ rough , the rough, ↑ roughage , ↑ roughness ; verb : ↑ rough , ↑ roughen ; adverb : ↑ rough , ↑ roughly ; adjective : ↑ rough ]
[ Language: Old English ; Origin: ruh ]
1 . NOT SMOOTH having an uneven surface OPP smooth :
Her hands were rough from hard work.
the rough terrain at the base of the mountains
We were bumping over the rough ground.
2 . NOT EXACT [usually before noun] not exact, not containing many details, or not in a final form SYN approximate :
a rough sketch of the house
a rough translation
Could you give me a rough idea what time you’ll be home?
a rough estimate of the cost
First do a rough draft of your essay.
3 . PROBLEMS/DIFFICULTIES a rough period is one in which you have a lot of problems or difficulties SYN tough :
The first year was rough, but things have gotten better.
Sounds like you had a rough day.
We’ve been through some rough times together.
My boyfriend and I were going through a rough patch.
The bill is in for a rough ride in the Senate.
It’s been rough going, but we’ve almost finished now.
4 . NOT GENTLE using force, anger, or violence OPP gentle :
Rugby is a very rough sport.
Don’t be too rough – she’s only little.
Paul gave her a rough shake.
equipment capable of withstanding rough treatment
The referee won’t allow any rough stuff (=violent behaviour) .
be rough on somebody (=treat someone unkindly or criticize them in an angry way)
Don’t you think you were a little rough on her?
5 . TOWN/AREA ETC a rough area is a place where there is a lot of violence or crime:
a rough part of town
6 . WEATHER/SEA with strong wind or storms OPP calm :
The ship went down in rough seas.
7 . VOICE/SOUND
a) not sounding soft or gentle, and often rather unpleasant or angry:
Barton’s deep, rough voice
b) having an unpleasant sound, especially because there is something wrong with a machine:
The clutch sounds rough – better get it checked.
8 . SIMPLE/NOT WELL MADE simple and often not very well made:
a rough wooden table
9 . NOT COMFORTABLE uncomfortable, and with difficult conditions:
The journey was long and rough.
10 . have rough edges ( also be rough around the edges )
a) to have some parts that are not as good as they should be, but that are not a serious problem:
The team has a few rough edges, but they’re winning more games.
b) if a person is rough around the edges, they are not very polite, educated etc
11 . rough night a night when you did not sleep well:
Mickey had a rough night last night.
12 . a rough deal something that happens to you that is unfair or unpleasant:
He’s had a rough deal with his wife leaving him like that.
13 . feel rough British English informal to feel ill
14 . look rough British English informal to look untidy, dirty, or unhealthy:
After travelling for two days we must have looked pretty rough.
15 . rough and ready not perfect, but good enough for a particular purpose:
The tests are only a rough and ready guide to a pupil’s future development.
16 . rough justice punishment that is not decided in a court in the usual legal way, and that is often severe or unfair:
Gangs practise a kind of rough justice on their members.
—roughness noun [uncountable]
⇨ ↑ rough diamond , ↑ rough paper , ↑ roughly
• • •
COLLOCATIONS (for Meaning 3)
■ nouns
▪ a rough day/week etc
He’s had a rough week at work.
▪ a rough time
My children had a rough time because they were different from the rest.
▪ a rough patch (=a difficult time that does not last long)
He was good at encouraging his team when it hit a rough patch.
▪ a rough ride (=a time when you are criticized, opposed etc)
She was given a rough ride by the press.
|
Though the President pushed the bill through the House of Representatives, it faces a rough ride in the Senate.
▪ rough going (=a difficult and unpleasant experience)
If there is a recession, next year will be very rough going.
• • •
THESAURUS
▪ rough having a surface that is not flat or smooth:
rough ground
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a rough mountain path
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The walls were all rough.
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Her hands were rough and work-hardened.
▪ uneven an uneven surface has areas that are not flat or not all at the same level:
The floor was uneven.
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She climbed the uneven steps with great care.
▪ bumpy a bumpy road, path, or area of land has a lot of holes and raised parts in it:
the bumpy track down to the farm
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The field was too bumpy to play football on.
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a bumpy journey (=on a road that has a very rough surface)
▪ coarse having a rough surface that feels slightly hard – used especially about materials such as cloth or wool:
coarse woollen blankets
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coarse grass
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The wool felt rather coarse.
▪ rugged /ˈrʌɡəd, ˈrʌɡɪd/ land that is rugged is very rough and uneven and is often in a high place:
the rugged terrain near the mountains
■ COLLOCATIONS CHECK
▪ rough ground/sea/stone/skin
▪ uneven surface/floor/pavement
▪ bumpy road/field/journey
▪ coarse cloth/wool/paper/grass
▪ rugged terrain/mountain/landscape/coastline
II. rough 2 BrE AmE noun
[ Word Family: noun : ↑ rough , the rough, ↑ roughage , ↑ roughness ; verb : ↑ rough , ↑ roughen ; adverb : ↑ rough , ↑ roughly ; adjective : ↑ rough ]
1 . the rough uneven ground with long grass on an area where people play golf OPP green
2 . take the rough with the smooth to accept the bad things in life as well as the good ones:
You have to learn to take the rough with the smooth.
3 . [countable] a picture drawn very quickly, not showing all the details SYN sketch :
a rough of the proposed housing development
4 . in rough British English if you write or draw something in rough, you do it without paying attention to details or tidiness, because you are going to do it again later:
It’s best to work in rough first, and then write it out neatly.
5 . a bit of rough British English informal someone from a lower social class than you, with whom you have a sexual relationship
⇨ ↑ diamond in the rough
III. rough 3 BrE AmE verb
[ Word Family: noun : ↑ rough , the rough, ↑ roughage , ↑ roughness ; verb : ↑ rough , ↑ roughen ; adverb : ↑ rough , ↑ roughly ; adjective : ↑ rough ]
rough it informal to live for a short time in conditions that are not very comfortable:
I don’t mind roughing it for a while.
rough something ↔ out phrasal verb British English
to draw or write something without including all the details:
a diagram the engineer had roughed out on his notepad
rough somebody ↔ up phrasal verb
informal to attack someone and hurt them by hitting them
IV. rough 4 BrE AmE adverb
[ Word Family: noun : ↑ rough , the rough, ↑ roughage , ↑ roughness ; verb : ↑ rough , ↑ roughen ; adverb : ↑ rough , ↑ roughly ; adjective : ↑ rough ]
1 . sleep rough British English to sleep outside with nothing to protect you from the weather, especially because you have no home to live in:
the number of people sleeping rough on the street
2 . play rough to play in a fairly violent way
⇨ cut up rough at ↑ cut 1 (6)