Meaning & use
coarse
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Meanings
adjectivecomparable
Rough to the touch or made of large, uneven pieces rather than fine ones.
Grammar: Often before a noun: coarse sand; also after be: the cloth is coarse.
Patterns
- coarse to the touch
The blanket felt coarse against her skin.
Mix the coarse salt into the water before boiling.
He had thick, coarse hair that was hard to comb.
adjectivecomparabledisapproving
Rude or vulgar in speech or behavior, lacking politeness or refinement.
Grammar: Describes people, jokes or language: coarse laughter; a coarse remark.
The coarse jokes at dinner made several guests uncomfortable.
He was loud and coarse in manner, though kind at heart.
Her coarse language shocked the new teacher.
Word forms
| comparative | coarser |
|---|---|
| superlative | coarsest |
Common combinations
- coarse fabric
- The coarse fabric of the sack scratched his arms.
- coarse salt
- Sprinkle coarse salt over the bread before baking.
- coarse language
- The film contains coarse language and is not for children.
- coarse sand
- The beach was covered with coarse sand.
- coarse laugh
- He let out a coarse laugh that echoed across the room.
Synonyms and how they differ
- rough
- Rough is the everyday word for uneven texture, while coarse often implies large grains or a harsh feel.
- crude
- Crude describes rude or unrefined behavior, close to the second sense of coarse, but it can also mean simple or basic.
- vulgar
- Vulgar suggests offensive bad taste, which is stronger than coarse.
Opposites
Word family
- coarsely adverb
- In a rough or crude way, as in coarsely chopped.
- coarseness noun
- The quality of being coarse.
- coarsen verb
- To become or make rough or rude.
Commonly confused: coarse or course?
coarse vs course
A course is a class, route or part of a meal. Coarse describes rough texture or rude behavior. They sound identical.
Practice
The jacket was made of a ___ cloth that felt rough against the skin.
Choose one answer.
Coarse is the adjective for a rough texture. Course is a noun, and corse and coerce are different words.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “coarse”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.