1203
roughly
**rot·gut** /'rɒtɡʌt||'rɑːt-/ *n* [U] *slang* strong cheap alcohol that is bad for the stomach
**Roth, Philip** /rɒθ||rɒθ/ (1933-) a US writer who is considered by many people to be the best writer of his time. His best known book is *Portnoy's Complaint* (1969), which deals humorously with MIDDLE-CLASS Jewish life in the US. He won a Pulitzer prize in 1998 for his book *American Pastoral*.
**Roth·ko, Mark** /'rɒθkəʊ||'rɑːθ-/ (1903-70) a US artist, born in Russia, known especially for his large paintings of squares and RECTANGLES in different colours
**Roth·man's** /'rɒθmænz||'rɑːθ-/ *trademark* a type of cigarette made by Rothmans International, a company based in the UK
**Roths·child, N M** /'rɒθs-tʃaɪld||'rɑːθs-/ an important MERCHANT BANK (=bank that deals only with businesses, not with ordinary customers), based in London
**ro·tis·se·rie** /rəʊ'tɪsəri/ *n* an apparatus for cooking meat by turning it over and over on a bar (SPIT) under direct heat
**ro·tor** /'rəʊtə/ *n* **1** a part of a machine that turns round on a fixed point: *The giant turbine rotors began to turn.* **2** the system of blades that raise a HELICOPTER into the air by turning round and round
**Ro-to-root·er** /'rəʊtəʊ ˌruːtə/ a US PLUMBING and DRAIN cleaning company, whose advertising song was written in 1954 and is familiar to most Americans. It goes 'Roto-rooter, that's the name — and away go troubles, down the drain.'
**ro·to·va·tor** /'rəʊtəveɪtə/ *BrE* || **Ro-to-til-l·er** /'rəʊtəʊˌtɪlə/ *AmE* — *n trademark* a tool with blades that turn round to break up especially soil
**rot·ten** /'rɒtn||'rɑːtn/ *adj* **1** decayed; gone bad: *rotten eggs/fruit* | *a rotten branch* **2** *infml* nasty, unpleasant, or unsatisfactory: *What rotten weather!* | *Paul's a rotten driver.* | *What a rotten thing to do to her!* **3** *feel rotten infml* to feel ill or unhappy: *I feel rotten this morning; it must have been something I ate.* | *I felt rotten about having to sack him, but I had no alternative.* **4** *one rotten apple spoils the barrel* one bad person or thing can have a bad effect on others which are good but which may easily be spoilt **5** *Something is rotten in the state of Denmark* *quote* a phrase from SHAKESPEARE's play *Hamlet*, often used in speaking of a bad state of affairs in any country: *The number of violent crimes in Britain is on the increase; clearly, something is rotten in the state of Denmark.* →**-ly** *adv* →**-ness** *n* [U]
**rotten 'borough** *n* (in Britain before 1832) any of a number of places (BOROUGHS) which elected a Member of Parliament although they had very few voters
**rot·ter** /'rɒtə||'rɑː-/ *n* *BrE old-fash infml* a worthless or dishonourable person
**rott·wei·ler** /'rɒtwaɪlə||'rɑːt-/ *n* a German breed of dog which has a large body and head and very strong muscles, used to guard property, people, or (originally) animals → see picture at DOG
| **CULTURAL NOTE** Rottweilers became feared by many people after a series of violent attacks on adults and children in the late 1980s and early 1990s. In Britain, rottweilers must now be REGISTERED and wear a MUZZLE (=a covering around the dog's mouth to prevent it from biting) when they are in a public place. |
**ro·tund** /rəʊ'tʌnd/ *adj fml or humor* (of a person) fat and round →**-ity** *n* [U]
**ro·tun·da** /rəʊ'tʌndə/ *n* a round building or hall, especially one with a DOME (=rounded bowl-shaped roof)
**rou·ble, ru·ble** /'ruːbl/ *n* (a coin or note worth) the standard unit of money in the former USSR
**rou·é** /'ruːeɪ||ru'eɪ/ *n old use* a RAKE
**rouge¹** /ruːʒ/ *n* [U] a red substance used for colouring the cheeks to give a healthy appearance, especially by women and actors
**rouge²** *v* [T] to put rouge on (one's face)
**rough¹** /rʌf/ *adj* **1** having an uneven surface; not smooth: *The rough road made the car vibrate.* | *A cat's tongue is rough.* | *rough hands* **2** (of weather, the sea, or a sea journey) stormy and violent; not calm: *rough winds* | *We had a very rough crossing to France.* **3** *usu. derog* (esp. of a person or their behaviour) showing a lack of gentleness, good manners, or consideration, and perhaps a readiness to use force or violence: *a rough boy* | *He's a rough-looking character.* | *They complained of rough handling by the police.* | *a rough neighbourhood* (=full of rough people) | *Don't be so rough with that box – it's got eggs in it.* **4** (of a sound) not gentle or tuneful: *a rough voice* **5** done or made without attention to detail or exactness; APPROXIMATE: *a rough translation* | *She did a rough drawing to show what she meant.* | *Could you give me a rough idea when you'll be back?* (=tell me, without needing to be too exact) | *At a rough guess I'd say he was about 45.* → see also ROUGH PAPER **6** (of food and living conditions) not delicate or comfortable; simple: *Life was rough out in the American West in the last century.* | *a rough country wine* **7** (**on**) *infml* unfortunate and/or unfair: *She's had a very rough time recently.* | *My boss realized I was unprepared for the meeting, and gave me a bit of a rough ride.* (=a difficult time) | *It's a bit rough on* (=unfortunate for) him, losing his job. **8** [F] *infml* unwell: *I'm feeling pretty rough; I think I'll go to bed.* **9** *rough and ready* simple and without comfort: *The living conditions in the camp were a bit rough and ready.* **10** *the rough side of one's tongue old-fash infml* an act of speaking angrily to someone: *You'll get the rough side of my tongue if you're cheeky again.* → see also ROUGHLY
→**-ness** *n* [U]
**rough²** *n* **1** [(the) U] the uneven ground with long grass on a GOLF course: *I lost my ball in the rough.* **2** [C] *old use* a violent noisy man: *A crowd of young roughs was fighting at the football game.* **3** [C] a quick drawing not showing all details **4** *in rough* in an incomplete, untidy, or undetailed form: *Write it out in rough first and then copy it out neatly.* **5** *take the rough with the smooth* to accept bad things as well as good things without complaining
**rough³** *v* **rough it** *infml* to live in a simple and not very comfortable way: *Living in a tent's not for me – I don't like roughing it.*
**rough sthg.** **↔ in** *phr v* [T] to put in (a few practice lines in a drawing): *I'll just rough in the shape of the head and you can paint the sky round it.*
**rough sthg.** **↔ out** *phr v* [T] to make (a first plan of a drawing or piece of writing): *I'll just rough out the whole picture and you can do the details.*
**rough sbdy.** **↔ up** *phr v* [T] *infml* to attack roughly, usually as a threat
**rough⁴** *adv* **1** *BrE* in uncomfortable conditions, especially out of doors: *When you're a tramp, you get used to sleeping rough.* **2** not in a gentle way; using (too much) force: *Those boys certainly play rough!* → see also ROUGHLY
**rough·age** /'rʌfɪdʒ/ *n* [U] FIBRE (=string-like vegetable material) contained in food, that does not actually feed the eater, but helps the bowels to work: *Wholemeal bread provides valuable roughage.*
**rough-and-'tumble** *n* [C;U] (an occasion of) noisy fighting: *The kids were having a bit of a rough-and-tumble when one of them banged his head.* | (fig.) *the rough-and-tumble of politics*
**rough·cast** /'rʌfkɑːst||-kæst/ *n* [U] a rough surface on the outside of a building, made of PLASTER mixed with little stones or broken shells →**roughcast** *adj* [A]
**,rough 'diamond** *BrE* || **diamond in the rough** *AmE* — *n infml* a person who has a kind and generous nature and/or great ability, but whose outward manner is rather rough
**rough·en** /'rʌfn/ *v* [I;T] to make or become rough: *Constant washing of clothes had roughened her hands.*
**rough-'hewn** *adj* (of wood or stone) roughly cut; not made smooth: *a wall of rough-hewn blocks*
**rough·house¹** /'rʌfhaʊs/ *n* [S] *BrE old-fash infml* a noisy disorderly fight, not usually with weapons
**roughhouse²** *v* [I] *AmE* to play roughly, to WRESTLE: *The children were roughhousing in the living room and knocked over a lamp.*
**rough·ly** /'rʌfli/ *adv* **1** in a rough manner: *He pushed her roughly away.* | '*Get out!*' he said *roughly.* **2** about; not exactly: *There were roughly 200 people there.* | *How many people, roughly?* | *Roughly speaking, I'd say 200.* | *The cost of the two systems is roughly equal/roughly the same.*