roughen
/'rʌfn/
Học thuậtThân thiện
Definition
- Verb (transitive):
- To make something rough or rougher in texture or surface.
- Verb (intransitive):
- To become rough or rougher.
Usage
The verb "roughen" describes the action of changing a surface from smooth to not smooth, or increasing its existing roughness. It is often used in technical, craft, or descriptive contexts. The transitive form (with an object) is more common than the intransitive form.
Examples
- Transitive Verb:
- You should roughen the wood with sandpaper before applying the glue.
- Years of exposure to the wind had roughened the surface of the stone.
- The cold weather can roughen your skin.
- Intransitive Verb:
- His voice began to roughen with emotion.
- The sea started to roughen as the storm approached.
Advanced Usage
- "to roughen up": This phrasal verb often means to make something rough, but it can also informally mean to treat someone violently or to make something more robust or less refined.
- Roughen up the plaster a bit for a more textured finish.
- The coach told the players to roughen up their opponents. (informal)
Variants and Related Words
- Rough (adj): Having an uneven or irregular surface; not smooth or level.
- Roughness (n): The quality or state of being rough.
- Roughened (adj): Made rough.
- He sanded the roughened edge until it was smooth.
Synonyms
- Coarsen: To make or become rough or coarse in texture.
- Abrase: To wear away by friction (more technical).
- Scuff: To scrape or roughen the surface of something by hard use.
Antonyms
- Smooth: To make a surface even and free from roughness.
- Polish: To make something smooth and shiny by rubbing.
- Soften: To make something less hard or rough.
Phrasal Verbs
- Roughen up: As detailed in the 'Advanced Usage' section.
Related Idioms
- To roughen the edges: To make something less polished or refined; to give a more natural or rugged appearance or quality.
- The director wanted to roughen the edges of the protagonist's personality to make him more believable.
Verb
- make rough or rougher
- roughen the surfaces so they will stick to each other