I. ˈrəf adjective
( rough·er ; rough·est )
Etymology: Middle English, from Old English rūh; akin to Old High German rūh rough, Lithuanian raukas wrinkle
Date: before 12th century
1.
a. : marked by inequalities, ridges, or projections on the surface : coarse
b. : covered with or made up of coarse and often shaggy hair
rough -coated collie
— compare smooth , wirehaired
c.
(1) : having a broken, uneven, or bumpy surface
rough terrain
(2) : difficult to travel through or penetrate : wild
into the rough woods — P. B. Shelley
2.
a. : turbulent , tempestuous
rough seas
b.
(1) : characterized by harshness, violence, or force
(2) : presenting a challenge : difficult
rough to deal with — R. M. McAlmon
3. : coarse or rugged in character or appearance: as
a. : harsh to the ear
b. : crude in style or expression
c. : indelicate
d. : marked by a lack of refinement or grace : uncouth
4.
a. : crude , unfinished
rough carpentry
b. : executed or ventured hastily, tentatively, or imperfectly
a rough draft
rough estimate
also : approximate
a rough idea
• rough·ish ˈrə-fish adjective
• rough·ness ˈrəf-nəs noun
Synonyms:
rough , harsh , uneven , rugged , scabrous mean not smooth or even. rough implies points, bristles, ridges, or projections on the surface
a rough wooden board
harsh implies a surface or texture distinctly unpleasant to the touch
a harsh fabric that chafes the skin
uneven implies a lack of uniformity in height, breadth, or quality
an old house with uneven floors
rugged implies irregularity or roughness of land surface and connotes difficulty of travel
a rugged landscape
scabrous implies scaliness or prickliness of surface
a scabrous leaf
Synonym: see in addition rude .
II. adverb
Date: 14th century
1. : roughly 1
2. British : without usual conveniences ; especially : without proper shelter
become homeless and have to sleep rough — London Times
III. noun
Date: 15th century
1. : uneven ground covered with high grass, brush, and stones ; specifically : such ground bordering a golf fairway
2. : the rugged or disagreeable side or aspect
hiking-camping admirers of nature in the rough — Eleanor Stirling
3.
a. : something in a crude, unfinished, or preliminary state
b. : broad outline : general terms
the question…has been discussed in rough — Manchester Guardian Weekly
c. : a hasty preliminary drawing or layout
4. : rowdy
IV. transitive verb
Date: 1763
1. : roughen
2.
a. : to subject to abuse : manhandle , beat — usually used with up
b. : to subject to unnecessary and intentional violence in a sport
a penalty for rough ing the passer
c. : shell 3 — used with up
was rough ed up for six runs
3. : to calk or otherwise roughen (a horse's shoes) to prevent slipping
4.
a. : to shape, make, or dress in a rough or preliminary way
b. : to indicate the chief lines of
rough out the structure of a building
• rough·er noun
•
- rough it