Word
roughness
Phoneticsrough·ness, stress on the first syllable
US/ˈɹəfnəs/
UK/ɹˈʌfnəs/
Uncountable noun
Definition
n. the quality of having a surface that is not smooth. It can also describe a person's voice or behavior that is not polite or gentle.
n. the quality of being uneven or not smooth in texture; the state of being coarse or unrefined in manner or voice.
Examples
“The roughness of the sandpaper made it easy to scratch the wood.”
“Engineers must measure the surface roughness of the turbine blades to ensure they do not cause excessive friction.”
“While the technical specifications required a mirror finish, the artisan preferred the subtle roughness of the hand-hewn stone, finding it more aesthetically pleasing and tactile.”
Examples
simple
“The roughness of the sandpaper made it easy to scratch the wood.”
contextual
“Engineers must measure the surface roughness of the turbine blades to ensure they do not cause excessive friction.”
complex
“While the technical specifications required a mirror finish, the artisan preferred the subtle roughness of the hand-hewn stone, finding it more aesthetically pleasing and tactile.”
Real-World Examples
“Considering film thickness and surface roughness together could help guide future coating development.” Etymology
Inherited from Middle English roughnes /roughnesse. By surface analysis, rough + -ness. Compare Old English hrēohnes (“roughness”).
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Word family
NOUN
ADJECTIVE
ADVERB
Domain
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.B2 FirstIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.5.5–6.5TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 4.0–4.572–94TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.785–944
- Frequency
- Occasional
- Level
- B2 · Upper Intermediate
- Updated
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QR code
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