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📕 rednote ID(小红书号)：3881567312

Coarse: Definition, Usage & Examples (2 meaning)

Meaning 1：rough in texture (coarse)

coarse 🔊

/kɔːrs/

adj.

Having a rough surface that is not smooth or soft to touch.

Coarse texture illustrated by a close-up of rough, grainy weathered wood.

rough in texture 🔊

➕

/ˌrʌf ɪn ˈtɛkstʃər/

adj.

Describes a surface or material that is not smooth, fine, or soft to the touch.

📁 Category：Objects & Materials 🔖 Level：Beginner

📘 Details & Usage

📖 Root Explanation

From Middle English 'cors', meaning rough or ordinary, itself from the Latin 'corsus' (meaning rough or unprocessed).

💡 Mnemonic

Think of a 'coarse' 'course' (like a golf course) with rough, bumpy grass that is not smooth to walk on.

📖 Example

The coarse sand on this beach feels gritty between my toes, unlike the fine, soft sand at the resort. 🔊 The rough-textured sand on this beach feels gritty between my toes, unlike the fine, soft sand at the resort.

🔗 Collocations

coarse sand – sand with large, rough grains

coarse fabric – cloth that is thick and rough, like burlap

coarse hair – hair that is thick and wiry

🔄 Synonyms

rough (adj.) – having an uneven or irregular surface

bumpy (adj.) – covered with or full of bumps

grainy (adj.) – having a texture composed of grains or small particles

🚫 Antonyms

smooth (adj.) – having an even and regular surface

fine (adj.) – consisting of very small particles; delicate

soft (adj.) – easy to mold, cut, or compress; not rough

🌱 Derivatives

coarsely (adv.) – in a rough manner

coarsen (v.) – to make or become rough

📖 Cultural Story

The word 'coarse' evolved from the Latin 'corsus' via Middle English. Historically, it distinguished unrefined, common goods (like coarse bread or cloth) from finer, more expensive versions. This association with a lack of refinement extended metaphorically to describe speech and manners.

Meaning 2：rude or vulgar (coarse)

coarse 🔊

/kɔːrs/

adj.

Rude and offensive in manner or speech, lacking refinement or politeness.

rude or vulgar 🔊

➕

/ˌruːd ɔː ˈvʌlɡər/

adj.

Describes behavior, language, or manners that are lacking in refinement, delicacy, or politeness.

📁 Category：Behaviors & Actions 🔖 Level：Beginner

📘 Details & Usage

📖 Example

His coarse jokes at the dinner table made some of the guests feel very uncomfortable. 🔊 His rude and vulgar jokes at the dinner table made some of the guests feel very uncomfortable.

🔗 Collocations

coarse language – speech that is rude or uses swear words

coarse jokes – jokes that are indecent or offensive

coarse manners – behavior that is uncultured or impolite

🔄 Synonyms

crude (adj.) – offensively simple or basic, especially in a sexual or social sense

vulgar (adj.) – lacking sophistication or good taste; indecent

uncouth (adj.) – lacking good manners, refinement, or grace

🚫 Antonyms

polite (adj.) – having or showing behavior that is respectful and considerate of others

refined (adj.) – elegant and cultured in appearance, manner, or taste

courteous (adj.) – polite, respectful, or considerate in manner

🌱 Derivatives

coarseness (n.) – the quality of being rough in texture or rude in manner