adjective / verb / adverb / noun

rough

RUFF/rʌf/

Uneven or unrefined rather than smooth.

The rough board has raised fibers beside the smooth, planed board.

A close view of a rough, unfinished wooden board beside a smooth planed board, making the uneven surface immediately visible through raised fibers, splinters and ridges.

Etymology

roughOld Englishcoarse, shaggy, not smooth

Old English rūh described coarse cloth, shaggy surfaces, and untrimmed hides. This physical lack of smoothness extended to harsh actions, rude language, and unpolished manners.

In context

Adobe in Action9:06

We do not really want to smooth out the surfaces. We want rough surfaces. That actually makes it easier when we start building adobe walls with these bricks. Rough surfaces grab the mortar better.

Adobe in Action's Adobe Brickmaking Process

More examples

I send her a rough draft for feedback.
We rough out a plan before discussing the details.
Her golf ball lands in the rough beside the fairway.

Forms

rough · rougher · roughest · roughs · roughed · roughing

roughness noun — The quality of being uneven or unrefined.

roughen verb — To make or become less smooth.

Similar words

uneven: Emphasizes differences in height or level rather than texture.
coarse: Emphasizes large grains or thick fibers in a texture.
crude: Emphasizes a lack of skill, finish, or refinement.