Rough Definition
rough
adverb
- with roughness or violence (`rough' is an informal variant for `roughly'); "he was pushed roughly aside"; "they treated him rough"
- with rough motion as over a rough surface; "ride rough"
adjective
- having or caused by an irregular surface; "trees with rough bark"; "rough ground"; "rough skin"; "rough blankets"; "his unsmooth face"
- (of persons or behavior) lacking refinement or finesse; "she was a diamond in the rough"; "rough manners"
- not quite exact or correct; "the approximate time was 10 o'clock"; "a rough guess"; "a ballpark estimate"
- full of hardship or trials; "the rocky road to success"; "they were having a rough time"
- violently agitated and turbulent; "boisterous winds and waves"; "the fierce thunders roar me their music"- Ezra Pound; "rough weather"; "rough seas"
- unpleasantly harsh or grating in sound; "a gravelly voice"
- ready and able to resort to force or violence; "pugnacious spirits...lamented that there was so little prospect of an exhilarating disturbance"- Herman Melville; "they were rough and determined fighting men"
- of the margin of a leaf shape; having the edge cut or fringed or scalloped
- causing or characterized by jolts and irregular movements; "a rough ride"
- not shaped by cutting or trimming; "an uncut diamond"; "rough gemstones"
- not carefully or expertly made; "managed to make a crude splint"; "a crude cabin of logs with bark still on them"; "rough carpentry"
- not perfected; "a rough draft"; "a few rough sketches"
- unpleasantly stern; "wild and harsh country full of hot sand and cactus"; "the nomad life is rough and hazardous"
- unkind or cruel or uncivil; "had harsh words"; "a harsh and unlovable old tyrant"; "a rough answer"
noun
- the part of a golf course bordering the fairway where the grass is not cut short
verb
- prepare in preliminary or sketchy form
"Rough" in song lyrics
See how rough is used in real songs:
-
"They say I'm dope, nice, super good, or rough"
(2 Live Crew) — This is to Luke From the Posse -
"The man you can't handle, 'cause I'm just too rough"
(2 Live Crew) — This is to Luke From the Posse -
"Why you frontin, you ain't really rugged and rough"
3rd Eye — If it Ain't Rough it Ain't Right
Words that rhyme with rough
Usage tips for "rough"
Understanding the precise definition of a word helps you use it with confidence. When using "rough" in your writing, consider whether you need the word itself or one of its synonyms — subtle differences in meaning can change the tone of a sentence. If you're writing poetry or song lyrics, check the rhymes for rough to find words that pair well.