/ rɔː; NAmE / adjective , noun
■ adjective
FOOD
1.
not cooked :
raw meat
These fish are often eaten raw.
MATERIALS
2.
[ usually before noun ] in its natural state; not yet changed, used or made into sth else :
raw sugar
INFORMATION
3.
[ usually before noun ] not yet organized into a form in which it can be easily used or understood :
This information is only raw data and will need further analysis.
EMOTIONS / QUALITIES
4.
[ usually before noun ] powerful and natural; not controlled or trained :
songs full of raw emotion
He started with nothing but raw talent and determination.
PART OF BODY
5.
red and painful because the skin has been damaged :
There were raw patches on her feet where the shoes had rubbed.
➡ note at painful
PERSON
6.
[ usually before noun ] new to a job or an activity and therefore without experience or skill :
a raw beginner
raw recruits (= for example, in the army)
WEATHER
7.
very cold :
a raw north wind
It had been a wet raw winter.
DESCRIPTION
8.
honest, direct and sometimes shocking :
a raw portrayal of working-class life
( NAmE )
raw language (= containing many sexual details)
► raw·ness noun [ U ]
•
IDIOMS
- a raw deal
■ noun
•
IDIOMS
- catch / touch sb on the raw
- in the raw
—more at nerve noun
••
WORD ORIGIN
Old English hrēaw , of Germanic origin; related to Dutch rauw and German roh , from an Indo-European root shared by Greek kreas raw flesh.