coarse
- 01 B1 Intermediate
having a rough or uneven surface; not smooth to the touch.
having a rough or harsh texture; not smooth or fine in consistency.
Simple“The jacket was made of a coarse wool that felt scratchy against his skin.”
In context“The artisan preferred working with coarse linen, valuing the tactile quality and durability that more refined fabrics often lacked.”
- 02 B2 Upper Intermediate
made of large pieces or grains rather than a fine powder.
consisting of large particles or grains; granular in composition.
Simple“The recipe calls for coarse salt to be sprinkled over the top of the bread.”
In context“The geologist noted that the coarse sand found near the riverbank indicated a high-energy environment where smaller particles had been washed away.”
- 03 B2 Upper Intermediate
rude, impolite, or using bad language.
lacking refinement, taste, or delicacy; often applied to vulgar language or manners.
Simple“He was embarrassed by his friend's coarse jokes at the formal dinner.”
In context“The critic dismissed the play as coarse, arguing that its reliance on toilet humour overshadowed the otherwise clever plot.”
Adjectival use of course that diverged in spelling in the 18th century. The sense developed from '(following) the usual course' (cf. of course) to 'ordinary, common' to 'lacking refinement', with 'not fine, granular' arising from its application to cloth. Compare the development of mean.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.