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roughness

roughness

4 3.4
The way a surface feels when it is not smooth
  • noun
  • /ˈrʌf.nəs/
translation icon : aspereza
  • The roughness of the coastline made it difficult for boats to land safely.
  • surface roughness
  • roughness of the texture
  • reduce the roughness

What then happens is that your eyes are sensitive enough to notice roughnesses on the edge of the character.

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Examples

  • NREL-designed airfoils are much less sensitive to the effects of surface roughness than are conventional airfoils designed for aircraft.

    Academic text (1994)
  • "Your hand," she gasped as she felt its roughness on her palm.

    Fiction book (1992)
  • One major concern is the roughness of the growth front.

    Academic text (1993)
  • I mean, why would you add roughness to the surface of the wing?

  • Well, you want it not to be very rough because roughness increases surface area.

  • I will take my father's hand and feel the roughness of the bark spreading beneath the smooth human skin.

    Fiction book (1996)
  • Many other macroscopic phenomena come into play, as do surface roughness and bulk molecular structure and dynamics.

    Academic text (1999)
  • The acoustic televiewer creates an image of the topography or roughness of the borehole wall using reflected acoustic waves.

    Academic text (1997)
  • So these wax crystals have just the right surface roughness that they're too rough for adhesion, but not rough enough for claws to attach to it.

  • The roughness of the wooden table made it uncomfortable to lean on.

Synonyms

texture
vsroughness
114 3.4

The way a surface feels and looks, for example smooth or rough

is the basic state of being rough without stressing look or feel
rough water
vsroughness
3 3.6

Sea or big lake with strong waves that make travel by boat difficult

is being rough generally, not specifically about water movement
bumpity
vsroughness
  • Informal
2 9.1

A rough, uneven surface that makes travel feel jumpy

is the general state of being rough, not focused on movement or travel
unevenness
vsroughness
1 5.1

A state in which something is not level or smooth

is the general quality of being rough rather than specifically uneven
bumpiness
vsroughness
1 4.6

An uneven surface with many bumps

is the overall state of being rough rather than specifically raised bumps
graininess
vsroughness
1 6.4

A rough or not smooth texture caused by many small pieces

covers being rough generally rather than a grainy particle structure
harshness
vsroughness
1 3.4

A rough surface that makes skin sore

means rough in general without stressing causing physical harm
rockiness
vsroughness
1 4.2

Land covered with many rocks that is rough and uneven

is the general idea of being rough beyond just rocky coverings
ruggedness
vsroughness
1 4.9

Land that is rough and uneven and hard to walk on

is the general notion of being rough, not only about natural landforms
choppiness
vsroughness
1 6.0

Rough, uneven sea surface that makes waves unpredictable

is the general idea of being rough applied beyond maritime conditions
coarseness
vsroughness
4.1

A rough texture that is not smooth

is the broader idea of being rough not tied to material finish
grittiness
vsroughness
5.2

A rough, sandy feeling from small hard bits

is the wider concept of being rough not limited to particle presence
jaggedness
vsroughness
6.5

A rough edge with sharp, uneven points

covers being rough broadly, not only sharp or pointed irregularities
raggedness
vsroughness
6.2

An uneven, rough surface or edge you can feel

is the general state of being rough rather than a torn look
scratchiness
vsroughness
4.6

A rough feeling on skin or fabric that makes it uncomfortable

expresses being rough generally, not focused on causing skin discomfort
abrasiveness
vsroughness
  • Specialized
6.8

A rough quality that scratches or wears away a surface

is the general idea of being rough, not specifically able to abrade other things
cragginess
vsroughness
7.5

A rough, uneven surface like the face of a rocky cliff

is the broader notion of being rough not limited to cliffs or crags

Antonyms

18 5.3

The smooth, confident style that comes from practice

5 1.9

An even surface without rough parts

1 2.6

How something works without pauses or problems

How Rough

ruggedness
1 4.9
roughness
4 3.4
unevenness
1 5.1
smoothness
5 1.9

Surface Forms

roughness singular
roughnesses plural

Morphology

roughness = rough (transparent) = rough + ness

Productive nominalization of the adjective 'rough' by the suffix '-ness' yielding the quality or state 'the quality of being rough'.

Etymology

Roughness is rough + -ness, and rough comes from an old English word meaning 'coarse' or 'hairy'. So imagine a bumpy surface you can feel under your hand — that is why roughness means the quality of being uneven or not smooth.