Nearby Words

coarse

[kawrs, kohrs] Origin

coarse

[kawrs, kohrs]
adjective, coars·er, coars·est.
1.
composed of relatively large parts or particles: The beach had rough, coarse sand.
2.
lacking in fineness or delicacy of texture, structure, etc.: The stiff, coarse fabric irritated her skin.
3.
harsh; grating.
4.
lacking delicacy, taste, or refinement; unpolished: He had coarse manners but an absolutely first-rate mind.
5.
of inferior or faulty quality; common; base.
EXPAND
6.
vulgar; obscene; crude: His coarse language angered us.
7.
(of metals) unrefined.
8.
(of a metal file) having the maximum commercial grade of coarseness.
COLLAPSE

Origin:
1550–60; earlier cors(e), course, cowarce; of obscure origin

coarse·ly, adverb
coarse·ness, noun
un·coarse, adjective
un·coarse·ly, adverb
un·coarse·ness, noun

coarse, course, curse, cuss.


2, 4. crude, rude, rough. 4. vulgar, gross, crass. 6. indelicate.


4. refined, sensitive.

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Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2012.
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Coarse is always a great word to know.
So is flibbertigibbet. Does it mean:
a chattering or flighty, light-headed person.
a fool or simpleton; ninny.
Collins
World English Dictionary
coarse (kɔːs)
 
adj
1.  rough in texture, structure, etc; not fine: coarse sand
2.  lacking refinement or taste; indelicate; vulgar: coarse jokes
3.  of inferior quality; not pure or choice
4.  (of a metal) not refined
5.  (of a screw) having widely spaced threads
 
[C14: of unknown origin]
 
'coarsely
 
adv
 
'coarseness
 
n

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 10th Edition
2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
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Etymonline
Word Origin & History

coarse
1424, cors "ordinary," probably adj. use of noun cours (see course), originally referring to rough cloth for ordinary wear. Developed a sense of "rude" c.1510 and "obscene" 1711. Perhaps related, via metathesis, to Fr. gros, which had a similar sense development.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
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