Looking for the meaning of the word ROUGH in English for both noun and verb forms from the Oxford Dictionary? Below, you can explore all possible meanings and definitions of ROUGH with sentence examples. You can also use the “AUDIO PRONUNCIATION” track to check the correct pronunciation in British English.
Word: Rough
Speech Type: Adjective
Old English rūh, of West Germanic origin; related to Dutch ruw and German rauh
rʌf
having an uneven or irregular surface; not smooth or level
Short Definition:having uneven or irregular surface
Examples:- they had to carry the victim across the rough, stony ground
- her skin felt dry and rough
(of a person or their behaviour) not gentle; violent or boisterous
Short Definition:not gentle
Examples:- pushchairs should be capable of withstanding rough treatment
not finished tidily or decoratively; plain and basic
Short Definition:not finished tidily or decoratively
Examples:- the customers sat at rough wooden tables
(of a voice) harsh and rasping
Short Definition:harsh and rasping
Examples:- his voice was rough with barely suppressed fury
not exact or precise; approximate
Short Definition:not exact or precise
Examples:- they had a rough idea of when the murder took place
- it'll cost about £50, at a rough guess
difficult and unpleasant or unfair
Short Definition:difficult and unpleasant
Examples:- the teachers gave me a rough time because my image didn't fit
- the first day of a job is rough on everyone
Word: Rough
Speech Type: Adverb
rʌf
in a manner that lacks gentleness; harshly or violently
Short Definition:in manner that lacks gentleness
Examples:- treat 'em rough but treat 'em fair
Word: Rough
Speech Type: Noun
rʌf
a disreputable and violent person
Short Definition:disreputable and violent person
Examples:- the rear of the column was attacked by roughs
(on a golf course) longer grass around the fairway and the green
Short Definition:(on golf course) longer grass around fairway and green
Examples:- his second shot lay in the rough
a preliminary sketch
Short Definition:preliminary sketch
Examples:- I did a rough to work out the scale of the lettering
an uncut precious stone
Short Definition:uncut precious stone
Examples:- miners discovered one of the biggest diamond roughs in history
Word: Rough
Speech Type: Verb
rʌf
work or shape (something) in a rough, preliminary fashion
Short Definition:work or shape something in rough fashion
Examples:- the piece of glass is now roughed into a circular form
- flat surfaces of wood are roughed down
make uneven
Short Definition:make uneven
Examples:- the water was roughed by the wind
- rough up the icing with a palette knife
live in discomfort with only basic necessities
Short Definition:live in discomfort with only basic necessities
Examples:- she'd had to rough it alone in digs
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