unevenun‧e‧ven /ʌnˈiːvən/ ●○○ adjective 
Examples
She walked back carefully over the uneven ground.► see thesaurus at rough2not regular: His breathing had become uneven. uneven rates of development3not equal or equally balanced: an uneven distribution of resources4good in some parts and bad in others: an uneven performance—unevenly adverb—unevenness noun [uncountable]
ExamplesEXAMPLES FROM OTHER DICTIONARIES
Thesaurus- an uneven income distribution
- His teeth were yellow and uneven.
- The driveway was uneven, with cracks running through it.
- The library's record collection is of uneven quality.
- The old uneven brick sidewalk was ripped up and replaced.
- We listened to the uneven rhythm of the wind's roar.
- As with all the economic forces affecting firms' behaviour, the impact of change is uneven and defies generalisation.
- Early development is likely to be uneven because of differentiation in initial conditions.
- Moreover, the cooling would be uneven, and the resultant shrinkage and warping would leave the structure fissured and cracked.
- Suddenly he felt an uneven tug, the string went slack, and he realized that his efforts had been in vain.
- The uneven ground around the mill was created by digging clay for brick-making.
- The light was uneven in that perfect space; the corners in shadow, the long sides illuminated.
- This shift, however, has had a geographically uneven impact, both between and within the economic planning regions.
THESAURUS► rough
Collocations having a surface that is not flat or smooth: · rough ground· a rough mountain path· The walls were all rough.· Her hands were rough and work-hardened.
► uneven an uneven surface has areas that are not flat or not all at the same level: · The floor was uneven.· She climbed the uneven steps with great care.
► bumpy a bumpy road, path, or area of land has a lot of holes and raised parts in it: · the bumpy track down to the farm· The field was too bumpy to play football on.· a bumpy journey (=on a road that has a very rough surface)
► coarse having a rough surface that feels slightly hard – used especially about materials such as cloth or wool: · coarse woollen blankets· coarse grass· The wool felt rather coarse.
► rugged land that is rugged is very rough and uneven and is often in a high place: · the rugged terrain near the mountains
Longman Language Activatornot flat or smooth► rough not flat - use this about roads, walls, areas, land etc where the surface is not smooth because there are a lot of stones or small raised parts: · A rough gravel trail was the only way into town.· rough mountain paths· the rough stone walls of the old castle
► bumpy a bumpy road, path, or area of land has a lot of holes and raised parts in it: · The field was too bumpy to play football on.· Neal drove the last mile down the bumpy road towards the highway.bumpy ride (=when you are travelling in a vehicle on an uneven surface): · Fasten your seatbelt, this ride may be bumpy.
► uneven an uneven surface has areas that are not flat or not all at the same level: · His teeth were yellow and uneven.· The old uneven brick sidewalk was ripped up and replaced.
► lumpy a bed or chair that is lumpy has lumps under the surface so that it is uncomfortable to sit on or lie on: · Sandra lay on the lumpy mattress, unable to sleep.· I paid $40 a week for a tiny room with a lumpy couch and a battered old desk.
COLLOCATIONS FROM OTHER ENTRIES► uneven/unequal contest
1not smooth, flat, or level: British English (=one in which one of the people, groups etc has a better chance of winning)· Given their military strength, the war was a pretty unequal contest.
COLLOCATIONS FROM THE CORPUSADVERB► very· His work, to be discussed in a later chapter, was very uneven.· But the right-hand column was a record of growth, though of a very uneven kind.· Indeed the overall score of the 1980s has been very uneven.· Once round the corner, I moved forward as fast as I dared, though the going was very uneven.· Thus without control, a very uneven spread of available nurses arises.· But it is also because of the geography of growth of the service sector, which has also been very uneven.· Empirically, the advance of the Labour Party was very uneven.· The outcome of such primary data collection, however, is very uneven.
NOUN► development· A key concept in understanding such major shifts, and relating them to wider economic change, is uneven development.· In fact, we find tendencies toward both the conservation and the erosion of non-capitalist forms as a consequence of uneven development.· Writers often refer to uneven development between sectors, for example, or between firms within a sector.· But uneven development does not simply mean that types and quantities of physical and social phenomena vary from place to place.· The focus on the labour process and on the division of labour allows other forms of uneven development to be picked up.· What is clear, however, is that decentralization ushered in a new form of uneven development.· So Massey sees relations and changes in the realm of employment as key starting points for understanding uneven development.· Moreover these different forms of uneven development are constructed one upon the other.
► distribution· These resources tend to be associated with each other, further compounding their uneven distribution.· Overall service provision may be stabilized, but a more uneven distribution may result.· Conflict was exacerbated by the uneven distribution of resources and development effort between the different regions of the country.· This enables service managers to plan around the peaks and troughs created by an inevitable uneven distribution of learners.
► ground· The uneven ground around the mill was created by digging clay for brick-making.· I hovered over the uneven ground of row three looking for an empty pad to park.· Be careful when wheeling a trolley over any uneven ground if your child is in the seat.· On uneven ground use a base and peg it down or use stones to steady it.· Guiding the plough and following the team up and down the field over the uneven ground was very hard and tiring work.· It is rushing towards me over the uneven ground.· She came into the cobbled yard in front of the coach house walking carefully in her high-heeled sandals on the uneven ground.
► surface· Further coats of varnish should be applied undiluted and with care to avoid runs and an uneven surface.
She walked back carefully over the uneven ground.► see thesaurus at rough2not regular: His breathing had become uneven. uneven rates of development3not equal or equally balanced: an uneven distribution of resources4good in some parts and bad in others: an uneven performance—unevenly adverb—unevenness noun [uncountable]