rough

adjective

UK /rʌf/

Word Forms

adjective	rough
comparative	rougher
superlative	roughest

1
with a surface that is not smooth
The walls were built of dark rough stone.
Hessian provides warm colour and a rough homespun texture.
Synonyms and related words
Not smooth
rough
uneven
coarse
1. 1a
  used about the surface of a lake, river, or sea that has a lot of waves, often because the weather is bad
  Rough seas prevented rescuers from approaching the ship.
  Synonyms and related words
  Words used to describe areas of water
  briny
  calm
  choppy
2. 1b
  used about land and roads that are difficult to travel on
  They covered the 30 miles of rough terrain in record time.
  Synonyms and related words
  Road surfaces and features
  asphalt
  bitumen
  blacktop
2
informaldifficult and with a lot of problems
I had a rough day at the office.
a rough time:
You’ve been through rough times, you know what it is like.
a rough patch (=a difficult period):
They were going through a rough patch in their relationship.
a rough night (=a night when you cannot sleep):
I feel terrible – I had a rough night last night.
Synonyms and related words
Not pleasant and enjoyable
unpleasant
bad
awful
3
not gentle
Don’t be so rough with her, James. She’s only a baby.
Synonyms and related words
Unfriendly
unfriendly
cold
hostile
4
a rough place is not pleasant because there is a lot of crime or violence there
Madeline grew up in a rough neighbourhood.
That’s a pretty rough bar.
Synonyms and related words
Not pleasant and enjoyable
unpleasant
bad
awful
5
a rough drawing or piece of writing is not completely finished
This is a rough drawing of the house I want to build.
rough draft:
Here is a rough draft for you to read.
Synonyms and related words
Words used to describe writing or speech style
articulate
be couched in something
chatty
1. 5a
  used about an object that is not made very well, or is not completely finished
  The customers sat at rough wooden tables.
  Synonyms and related words
  Not finished and incomplete
  light-touch
  incomplete
  unfinished
2. 5b
  a rough idea or guess is not detailed or exact
  I don’t know the precise cost, but I can give you a rough idea.
  Synonyms and related words
  Words used to describe descriptions
  101
  blow-by-blow
  broad
  Synonyms and related words
  Inexact and inaccurate
  incorrect
  inexact
  wrong
6
a rough voice is not soft and is unpleasant to listen to
Synonyms and related words
Words used to describe someone’s voice
adenoidal
appealing
a voice like a foghorn
7
Britishinformalif someone feels rough, they do not feel well
Synonyms and related words
Feeling and being unhealthy or ill
ill
frail
unfit
8
rough around the edges
imperfect, having flaws, unkempt
Your essay needs perfecting. It is still rough around the edges.
Submitted by:
Boris Marchenko from Russian Federation on 13/03/2018
Open Dictionary - March2018

phrases

be rough on someone

rough edges

rough

adjective

US /rʌf/

Word Forms

adjective	rough
comparative	rougher
superlative	roughest

1
with a surface that is not smooth
The walls were built of dark rough stone.
Burlap provides warm color and a rough homespun texture.
Synonyms and related words
Not smooth
rough
uneven
coarse
1. 1a
  used about land and roads that are difficult to travel on
  They covered the 30 miles of rough terrain in record time.
  Synonyms and related words
  Road surfaces and features
  asphalt
  bitumen
  blacktop
2. 1b
  used about the surface of a lake, river, or ocean that has a lot of waves, often because the weather is bad
  Rough waves prevented rescuers from approaching the ship.
  Synonyms and related words
  Words used to describe areas of water
  briny
  calm
  choppy
2
informaldifficult and with a lot of problems
Oh boy, I had a rough day at the office.
a rough night (=a night when you cannot sleep):
I feel terrible, I had a rough night last night.
a rough time:
You’ve been through rough times, you know what it’s like.
a rough ride (=a difficult period of time):
It’s been a rough ride for us, both financially and emotionally.
Synonyms and related words
Not pleasant and enjoyable
unpleasant
bad
awful
3
not gentle
Don’t be so rough with her, James. She’s only a baby.
Synonyms and related words
Unfriendly
unfriendly
cold
hostile
4
a rough drawing or piece of writing is not completely finished
This is a rough drawing of the table I want to build.
rough draft:
Here is a rough draft for you to read.
Synonyms and related words
Words used to describe writing or speech style
articulate
be couched in something
chatty
1. 4a
  used about an object that is not made very well, or is not completely finished
  The customers sat at rough wooden tables.
  Synonyms and related words
  Not finished and incomplete
  light-touch
  unfinished
  incomplete
2. 4b
  a rough idea or guess is not detailed or exact
  I don’t know the precise cost, but I can give you a rough idea.
  Synonyms and related words
  Words used to describe descriptions
  101
  blow-by-blow
  broad
  Synonyms and related words
  Inexact and inaccurate
  incorrect
  inexact
  wrong
5
a rough place is not pleasant because there is a lot of crime or violence there
Madeline grew up in a rough neighborhood.
That’s a pretty rough bar.
Synonyms and related words
Not pleasant and enjoyable
unpleasant
bad
awful
6
a rough voice is not soft and is unpleasant to listen to
Synonyms and related words
Words used to describe someone’s voice
adenoidal
appealing
a voice like a foghorn
7
Britishinformalif someone feels rough, they do not feel well
Synonyms and related words
Feeling and being unhealthy or ill
ill
frail
unfit
8
rough around the edges
imperfect, having flaws, unkempt
Your essay needs perfecting. It is still rough around the edges.
Submitted by:
Boris Marchenko from Russian Federation on 13/03/2018
Open Dictionary - March2018

phrases

be rough on someone

rough edges

rough

adverb

UK /rʌf/

Word Forms

comparative	rougher
superlative	roughest

rough

adverb

US /rʌf/

Word Forms

comparative	rougher
superlative	roughest

rough

noun

UK /rʌf/

Word Forms

singular	rough
plural	roughs

1
singular the part of a golf course where the grass is tall and not cut
Synonyms and related words
Golf
ace
backswing
birdie
2
countable a piece of writing or a drawing that is not finished
Synonyms and related words
Documents and types of document
annual report
blue book
certificate

phrases

in rough

take the rough with the smooth

rough

noun

US /rʌf/

Word Forms

singular	rough
plural	roughs

1
singular the part of a golf course where the grass is tall and not cut
Synonyms and related words
Golf
ace
ace
backswing
2
countable a piece of writing or a drawing that is not finished
Synonyms and related words
Documents and types of document
annual report
blue book
certificate
3
countable informal old-fashionedsomeone who is violent and commits crimes
Synonyms and related words
Miscellaneous criminals
abductor
abettor
accessory

phrases

in rough

take the rough with the smooth

rough

verb

UK /rʌf/

Word Forms

present tense
I/you/we/they	rough
he/she/it	roughs
present participle	roughing
past tense	roughed
past participle	roughed

phrasal verbs

rough out

transitive

Word Forms

present tense
I/you/we/they	rough out
he/she/it	roughs out
present participle	roughing out
past tense	roughed out
past participle	roughed out

to produce a drawing or piece of writing without including all the details

I’ve roughed out a few sketches for you.

Synonyms and related words

To write or give a summary

summarize

sum up

outline

Synonyms and related words

To create images on paper and canvas

draw

paint

sketch

rough up

transitive

Word Forms

present tense
I/you/we/they	rough up
he/she/it	roughs up
present participle	roughing up
past tense	roughed up
past participle	roughed up

informal

to physically attack someone

They roughed us up and took away our equipment.

Synonyms and related words

To attack a person or object

attack

assault

set on

rough

verb

US /rʌf/

Word Forms

present tense
I/you/we/they	rough
he/she/it	roughs
present participle	roughing
past tense	roughed
past participle	roughed

phrasal verbs

rough out

transitive

Word Forms

present tense
I/you/we/they	rough out
he/she/it	roughs out
present participle	roughing out
past tense	roughed out
past participle	roughed out

to produce a drawing or piece of writing without including all the details

I’ve roughed out a few sketches for you.

Synonyms and related words

To write or give a summary

summarize

sum up

outline

Synonyms and related words

To create images on paper and canvas

draw

paint

sketch

rough up

transitive

Word Forms

present tense
I/you/we/they	rough up
he/she/it	roughs up
present participle	roughing up
past tense	roughed up
past participle	roughed up

informal

to physically attack someone

They roughed us up and took away our equipment.

Synonyms and related words

To attack a person or object

attack

assault

strike at

rough

rough around the edges

rough

rough around the edges

rough

sleep/live rough

rough

play rough

sleep/live rough

rough

rough

rough

rough it

rough out

rough up

rough

rough it

rough out

rough up

rough ​‌‌‌

rough around the edges

rough ​‌‌‌

rough around the edges

rough

sleep​/​live rough

rough

play rough

sleep​/​live rough

rough

rough

rough

rough it

rough out

rough up

rough

rough it

rough out

rough up

rough

rough

sleep/live rough

sleep/live rough