raw
- 01 A2 Elementary
adj.food that has not been cooked.
adj.describing food in its natural state, not having been subjected to heat or cooking processes.
Simple“You should always wash your hands after touching raw meat.”
In context“The chef prepared a delicate carpaccio of raw beef, sliced paper-thin and drizzled with a truffle-infused olive oil.”
- 02 B1 Intermediate
adj.materials in their natural state before they are treated or changed by a factory.
adj.referring to substances or materials in their natural, unrefined state before industrial processing.
Simple“The factory imports raw silk from Asia to make expensive clothing.”
In context“The country's economy relies heavily on the export of raw materials like iron ore and timber rather than finished goods.”
- 03 B2 Upper Intermediate
adj.feelings that are very strong, honest, and not hidden.
adj.describing emotions or qualities that are powerful, undisguised, and perhaps painful in their honesty.
Simple“The singer's voice was full of raw emotion during the sad song.”
In context“The documentary captures the raw grief of the survivors, refusing to look away from their most vulnerable moments.”
SynonymsAntonyms - 04 B2 Upper Intermediate
adj.information or facts that have not been organised or studied yet.
adj.referring to data or statistics that have been collected but not yet processed, cleaned, or analysed.
Simple“We need to look at the raw data before we write the final report.”
In context“The researcher spent weeks cleaning the raw data to ensure that the final statistical model would be accurate and reliable.”
Synonymsunprocessedunfiltered - 05 B2 Upper Intermediate
adj.weather that is unpleasantly cold, damp, and windy.
adj.describing weather conditions that are unpleasantly cold and moist, often causing physical discomfort.
Simple“It was a raw morning with a grey sky and a freezing wind.”
In context“The raw November wind cut through his thin coat, making the walk to the station feel much longer than usual.”
- 06 B2 Upper Intermediate
adj.new to a job or activity and lacking training.
adj.lacking experience, refinement, or training in a particular field or activity.
Simple“The coach had to turn a group of raw recruits into a winning team.”
In context“Despite his raw talent, the young pianist lacked the technical discipline required for a professional concert career.”
SynonymsAntonyms - 07 B2 Upper Intermediate
adj.skin that is red and painful because it has been rubbed or hurt.
adj.having the surface skin abraded or removed, resulting in a sensitive and painful area.
Simple“His heels were raw after walking all day in new shoes.”
In context“The constant friction from the heavy straps had left her shoulders raw and blistered by the end of the hike.”
- 08 C1 Advanced
adj.having sex without using a condom.
adj.referring to sexual intercourse performed without the use of a condom.
Simple“They decided to go raw because they were in a committed relationship.”
In context“Public health officials warned that going raw significantly increases the risk of transmitting infections among casual partners.”
SynonymsAntonyms - 09 C2 Proficiency
n.a subject or topic that makes someone feel very upset or angry.
n.a metaphorical sensitive spot or a subject that causes immediate emotional distress when mentioned.
Simple“Mentioning his failed business was touching a raw with him.”
In context“The journalist's question about the senator's early career clearly touched a raw, prompting an uncharacteristically sharp rebuttal.”
Synonymssore pointweak spot - 10 C2 Proficiency
v.to have sex with someone without using a condom.
v.to engage in sexual penetration without the use of a prophylactic; used transitively.
Simple“He was worried after he rawed her without asking about her health.”
In context“The explicit lyrics of the song frequently mention rawing as a sign of intimacy or recklessness.”
Usage raw material · raw materials
“Drinking five raw eggs is itself a test of strength.”
“The process starts by removing the bones from the ham and separating the raw meat into large pieces.”
From Middle English rawe, raw, rau, from Old English hrēaw (“raw, uncooked”), from Proto-West Germanic hrau, from Proto-Germanic hrawaz, hrēwaz (“raw”), from Proto-Indo-European krewh₂- (“raw meat, fresh blood”). Cognate with Scots raw (“raw”), Dutch rauw (“raw”), German roh (“raw”), Swedish rå (“raw”), Icelandic hrár (“raw”), Latin crūdus (“raw, bloody, uncooked”), Irish cró (“blood”), Lithuanian kraujas (“blood”), Russian кровь (krovʹ, “blood”). Related also to Old English hrēow, hrēoh (“rough, fierce, wild, angry, disturbed, troubled, sad, stormy, tempestuous”). More at ree.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.