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# rough

«rough» in Mova's school dictionary: **bumpy or uneven when you touch it** — its meaning for a pupil, its sense in the lessons and examples, with 5 sentences of Mova's corpora that use it.

### part of speech

adjective (rough, rougher, roughest); adverb (rough — informal); noun (the rough); verb (rough it, rough out)

### meaning for a pupil

1) Rough means not smooth; a rough surface is bumpy or uneven when you touch it. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/R/rough/#m1)

2) Rough means not gentle; using too much force. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/R/rough/#m2)

3) Rough means not exact or not finished, like a rough guess or a rough drawing. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/R/rough/#m3)

4) Rough weather or sea is stormy, with big waves and wind. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/R/rough/#m4)

5) Rough means difficult or unpleasant, like a rough day. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/R/rough/#m5)

6) Feeling rough (UK) means feeling ill. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/R/rough/#m6)

7) To rough it is to live without comforts, as when camping. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/R/rough/#m7)

8) Rough can also mean not polished or refined, lacking fine manners or style. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/R/rough/#m8)

### sense in the lessons

In science, rough surfaces make more friction than smooth ones (sandpaper, tyre treads), so things slide less. In maths, a rough estimate or rough answer is an approximate one, often found by rounding. In writing, a «rough draft» is the first try before the final copy. In safety, rough seas mean stay out of the water, and rough play can hurt people. Phrases: «rough and tumble», «rough estimate», «rough copy», «rough draft», «rough sea», «sleep rough» (sleep outdoors without a home).

### examples

- The bark of the tree feels rough. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/R/rough/#x1)
- Sandpaper is rough, but glass is smooth. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/R/rough/#x2)
- Don't be rough with the puppy. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/R/rough/#x3)
- Make a rough estimate before you calculate. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/R/rough/#x4)
- Write a rough draft first, then check it. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/R/rough/#x5)
- The sea was too rough for swimming. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/R/rough/#x6)
- I've had a rough day. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/R/rough/#x7)
- Rough surfaces create more friction. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/R/rough/#x8)
- "It was a little rough--it wanted elegance." [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/R/rough/#x9)

### note

The «gh» sounds like «f»: «ruff». Comparative rougher, superlative roughest; adverb roughly («roughly 50» = about 50). Opposite: smooth (surface), gentle (behaviour), exact (number), calm (sea). In maths, «roughly» or «rough» means approximately.

### In the corpora

- [A rough patch is a hard time in a relationship, with more arguing or unhappiness, and many couples come through it.](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/school/adult-life/14-grown-ups-who-argue-and-make-up/10/)
- [A demo is a rough first recording made to show the idea of a song; it does not need to sound perfect.](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/school/arts/7-how-a-song-is-made-writing-recording-producing/13/)
- [A cow wraps its long rough tongue round grass because it has no top front teeth, only a hard pad.](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/school/biology/96-the-petting-farm-goats-sheep-pigs-rabbits-and-washing-hands/12/)
- [There are real reports of dolphins staying near swimmers in danger, but dolphins are wild animals with big teeth and can be rough.](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/school/biology/235-animal-minds-dolphins-names-orca-grandmothers-and-whale-songs/11/)
- [After supper there is a heavy knock: Badger, muddy and rough from nights outdoors.](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/school/books/67-willows-ch11-part3-badger-and-mole-come-home/4/)

### Trees and pragmatics

[Every meaning and example of «rough» parsed by Mova](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/R/rough/), each sentence with its dependency tree and frames.