coarse
gb/kˈɔɹs/ us/kˈɔɹs/
A2
English
~ 3600
Senses
0 senses
adjective
A2
property
1
Rough in texture
Feeling rough and not smooth when you touch it.
Usage pattern:
[something] feels coarse
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse 'coarse' with 'course', which means a class or direction.
Synonyms
rough (General term for an uneven surface, not necessarily as gritty as 'coarse'.)
Antonyms
smooth (Describes a surface without roughness or unevenness.)
Collocations
coarse sand
|coarse fabric
|coarse hair
|coarse salt
Themes
materials
|daily life
|daily_life
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- The coarse sand scratched the soles of my feet.
- She wore a scarf made from coarse wool.
- The bread was baked with coarse flour for extra texture.
- His hands were coarse from years of manual labor.
Learner examples
- The towel feels coarse.
- This bread has coarse flour.
- The carpet is coarse under my feet.
- My shirt is made of coarse cloth.
adjective
B1
property
2
Rude or crude in quality or manner
Not polite or elegant; rude or crude.
Usage pattern:
[someone/something] is coarse
Common mistake:
Learners may confuse this with 'harsh' when describing personality, but 'coarse' suggests crudeness rather than severity.
Synonyms
crude (Implies rudeness and lack of refinement, often in speech or manners.)
Antonyms
refined (Polite and elegant in manner or style.)
Collocations
coarse language
|coarse joke
|coarse manners
|coarse humor
Themes
behavior
|communication
|relationships
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- He was criticized for his coarse jokes at the dinner table.
- The movie was full of coarse language not suitable for children.
- Her coarse manners shocked the guests.
- Despite his wealth, his taste in art was surprisingly coarse.
Learner examples
- He made a coarse joke.
- That man uses coarse words.
- She has coarse manners.
- The movie has coarse language.
Grammar
Dictionary form
coarse
IPA
GB/kˈɔɹs/
US/kˈɔɹs/
Syllables & stress
coarse (1 syllable)
Stress on 1st syllable (coarse)
Word forms
Adjective
- Base: coarse
- Comparative: coarser
- Superlative: coarsest
Word family
Expressions
coarse-grained
1/kˈɔɹs ɡɹˈeɪnd/
fixed phrase
technical
Having large particles or texture elements
Having parts that are big and easy to see, like large grains in rock or sand.
Examples
- This is a coarse-grained sandstone, common in riverbeds.
- The photograph appeared coarse-grained due to low resolution.
in coarse terms
1/ˈɪn kˈɔɹs tˈɚmz/
fixed phrase
Said simply or crudely
To say something in simple, not polite, words.
Examples
- In coarse terms, the plan failed because no one cared enough to make it work.
- He described the situation in coarse terms to make his point clear.