adjective
- not smooth or level; having bumps, projections, etc.; uneven: a rough surface
- not easily traveled over or through because rocky, overgrown, wild, etc.: rough country
- shaggy or bristly: an animal with a rough coat
- characterized by violent action, motion, agitation, disturbance, or irregularity; specif.,
- stormy; tempestuous: rough weather
- boisterous or disorderly: rough play
- harsh, rude, brutal, etc.; not gentle or mild: a rough temper
- sounding harsh; discordant; jarring
- tasting harsh or astringent: rough wine
- coarse, as texture, cloth, food, etc.
- coarse in manner, tastes, etc.; lacking refinement or culture: rough men, rough language
- lacking refinements, comforts, and conveniences: the rough life of a pioneer
- not refined, polished, or prepared; natural, crude, etc.: a rough diamond
- not finished, elaborated, perfected, etc.: a rough sketch
- not worked out in detail; without claim to be exact or complete; approximate: a rough estimate
- requiring muscular energy rather than skill or intelligence: rough labor
- Informal difficult, severe, or disagreeable: a rough time
- Phonet. articulated with an aspirate; having the sound (h)
Origin:
ME ruh, rugh < OE ruh, akin to Ger rauh < IE *reuk < base *reu-, to tear, tear out (> rug, rotten): prob. basic sense “hairy, woolly”