rough

B1 Topic:Describing Qualities

US /ɹɐf/ UK /ɹʌf/ See IPA manual

Freq #1894

Meanings

1

adj
Having an uneven or bumpy surface; not smooth.

The path was rough and covered with stones.
2

adj
Approximate; not exact or finished in detail.

Can you give me a rough idea of the cost?
3

adj
Not gentle; using force or violence.

Rugby can be a rough sport.
4

adj
Difficult or unpleasant to go through.

She's had a rough week at work.
5

adv
In a harsh or violent way.

Don't play so rough with the puppy.

Thesaurus

Synonyms

1 adj · having an uneven or bumpy... coarseunsmooth

2 adj · approximate; not exact or... ballpark

5 adv · in a harsh or violent way. roughly

More abrasiveasperousgimpedharsh irregular jaggedjaggyrugged rugosesalebrousscabrous

Opposites

even polished smooth velvety

Word family

Forms roughedrougherroughestroughingroughnessroughs

Derived forms macroroughmicroroughnanoroughnonroughoverroughrough-and-readyrough-and-tumblerough-bookrough-drawrough-dressedrough-edgedrough-footed

Related forms rough-hewn

Appears in

Phrases (6)

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rough sea
the sea in a turbulent, stormy state with large waves

Adjective + noun
rough count
an approximate, imprecise estimate of a total

Adjective + noun
rough night
A night that is difficult, uncomfortable, or disturbed.

Adjective + noun
rough estimate
an approximate calculation made before exact information is available

Adjective + noun
rough similarity
a broad resemblance that does not extend to every detail

Adjective + noun
rough carpentry
woodworking that lacks careful detail or fine finishing

Adjective + noun

Idioms (2)

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Proverbs (1)

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You have to take the rough with the smooth

Tongue twisters (1)

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Rough and Rugged Rocks
Around the rough and rugged rocks the ragged rascal ran.

Repeat rough and rugged, then ragged rascal, before joining the sentence. Keep the initial /ɹ/ consistent and distinguish the vowels of r...

Etymology

From Middle English rough, roughe, roȝe, row, rou, ru, ruȝ, ruh, from Old English rūg, rūh, from Proto-Germanic *rūhaz. Cognate with Scots ruch, rouch (“rough”), Saterland Frisian ruuch, rouch (“rough”), West Frisian rûch (“rough”), Low German ruuch (“rough”), Dutch ruig (“rough”), German rau(h) (“rough”), Danish ru (“uneven on the surface, "rough", "rugged"”).

rough Middle English rūg Old English *rūhaz Proto-Germanic rau(h) rau ru Russian

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Topics

Describing Qualities

External links

# rough

**Type:** Word
**Level:** B1
**Part of speech:** adj, adv
**IPA (US):** /ɹɐf/
**IPA (UK):** /ɹʌf/
**Frequency rank:** 1894

## Meanings
1. Having an uneven or bumpy surface; not smooth.
2. Approximate; not exact or finished in detail.
3. Not gentle; using force or violence.
4. Difficult or unpleasant to go through.
5. In a harsh or violent way.

## Examples
- The path was rough and covered with stones.
- Can you give me a rough idea of the cost?
- Rugby can be a rough sport.
- She's had a rough week at work.
- Don't play so rough with the puppy.

## Synonyms
- abrasive
- asperous
- coarse
- gimped
- harsh
- irregular
- jagged
- jaggy
- rugged
- rugose
- salebrous
- scabrous

## Antonyms
- even
- polished
- smooth
- velvety

## Derived Forms
- macrorough
- microrough
- nanorough
- nonrough
- overrough
- rough-and-ready
- rough-and-tumble
- rough-book
- rough-draw
- rough-dressed
- rough-edged
- rough-footed

## Related Forms
- rough-hewn

## Roots and Affixes
- Root: rough
- Root: rūg
- Root: *rūhaz
- Root: rau(h)
- Root: ru

## Etymology
From Middle English rough, roughe, roȝe, row, rou, ru, ruȝ, ruh, from Old English rūg, rūh, from Proto-Germanic *rūhaz. Cognate with Scots ruch, rouch (“rough”), Saterland Frisian ruuch, rouch (“rough”), West Frisian rûch (“rough”), Low German ruuch (“rough”), Dutch ruig (“rough”), German rau(h) (“rough”), Danish ru (“uneven on the surface, "rough", "rugged"”).

## AI Etymology
Rough comes from Middle English rough, roughe, roȝe, row, rou, ru, ruȝ, ruh, from Old English rūg, rūh, from Proto-Germanic *rūhaz. Cognate with Scots ruch, rouch (“rough”), Saterland Frisian ruuch, rouch (“rough”), West Frisian rûch (“rough”), Low German ruuch (“rough”), Dutch ruig (“rough”), German rau(h) (“rough”), Danish ru (“uneven on the surface, "rough", "rugged"”). Modern senses include having an uneven or bumpy surface; not smooth. and approximate; not exact or finished in detail.. The wider word family includes derivatives such as macrorough, microrough, nanorough, nonrough, overrough, and rough-and-ready and related forms such as rough-hewn.

## Topics
- Describing Qualities

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rough

Meanings

Thesaurus

Appears in

Phrases (6)

Idioms (2)

Proverbs (1)

Tongue twisters (1)

Etymology

Topics

External links

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