roughness

Pronunciation: /ˈɹʌf.nəs/

Reading level: hard

Estimated CEFR level: C2 — Proficiency

Estimated from word frequency; not an official CEFR classification.

Definition

  1. noun a texture of a surface or edge that is not smooth but is irregular and uneven
  2. noun the quality of being unpleasant (harsh or rough or grating) to the senses
  3. noun an unpolished unrefined quality

Etymology

Inherited from Middle English roughnes /roughnesse. By surface analysis, rough + -ness. Compare Old English hrēohnes (“roughness”).

In classic literature

Synonyms

raggedness

Semantic network

Broader (hypernyms)
texture
Narrower (hyponyms)
prickliness, coarseness, scaliness, harshness, slub
Opposite (antonyms)
smoothness

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