Main Entry:

¹rough

Pronunciation:

\ˈrəf\

Function:

adjective

Inflected Form(s):

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>.

synonyms see in addition rude