Inflected forms: rough·er, rough·est 1. Having a surface marked by irregularities, protuberances, or ridges; not smooth. 2. Coarse or shaggy to the touch: a rough scratchy blanket.3a. Difficult to travel over or through: the rough terrain of the highlands.b. Characterized by violent motion; turbulent: rough waters.c. Difficult to endure or live through, especially because of harsh or inclement weather: a rough winter.d. Unpleasant or difficult: had a rough time during the exam.4a. Boisterous, unruly, uncouth, or rowdy: ran with a rough crowd.b. Lacking polish or finesse: rough manners.5. Characterized by carelessness or force, as in manipulating: broke the crystal through rough handling.6. Harsh to the ear: a rough raspy sound.7. Being in a natural state: rough diamonds.8. Not perfected, completed, or fully detailed: a rough drawing; rough carpentry.
NOUN:
1a. Rugged overgrown terrain. b.Sports The part of a golf course left unmowed and uncultivated. 2. The difficult or disagreeable aspect, part, or side: observed politics in the rough when working as an intern on Capitol Hill.3. Something in an unfinished or hastily worked-out state. 4. A crude unmannered person; a rowdy.
TRANSITIVE VERB:
Inflected forms: roughed, rough·ing, roughs 1a. To treat roughly or with physical violence: roughed up his opponent.b.Sports To treat (an opposing player) with unnecessary roughness, often in violation of the rules: was ejected from the game for roughing the passer.2. To prepare or indicate in an unfinished form: rough out a house plan.
ADVERB:
In a rough manner; roughly: The engine began to run rough and faltered.
IDIOM:
rough it To live without the usual comforts and conveniences: roughed it in a small hunting shack.
ETYMOLOGY:
Middle English, from Old English rh.
OTHER FORMS:
rougher —NOUN roughly —ADVERB roughness —NOUN
SYNONYMS:
rough, harsh, jagged, rugged, scabrous, uneven These adjectives apply to what is not smooth but has a coarse, irregular surface. Rough describes something that to the sight or touch has inequalities, as projections or ridges: rough bark; rough, chapped hands. Something harsh is unpleasantly rough, discordant, or grating: harsh burlap; a harsh voice.Jagged refers to an edge or surface with irregular projections and indentations: a jagged piece of glass.Rugged can apply to land surfaces characterized by irregular, often steep rises and slopes: rugged countryside.Scabrous means rough and scaly to the touch: granular, scabrous skin.Uneven describes lines or surfaces of which some parts are not level with others: uneven ground; uneven handwriting. See also synonyms at rude.
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