rougher

Pluralroughers

1. 1
   adjective

   Comparative of rough.

   The sea grew rougher as the storm moved in.

   His hands became rougher after years of working outdoors.

   Note

   It follows the usual pattern for one-syllable adjectives, taking -er where longer adjectives take more. The comparative carries every sense of rough: a rougher sea is more turbulent, a rougher draft is less finished, a rougher week is more trying. The same spelling is also a noun, the worker who shapes pieces, and its plural roughers is the quickest sign that the noun is meant.

2. 2
   nouncountable

   A worker who shapes a piece roughly, preparing it for a later finishing operation.

   The rougher removed the excess metal before the part moved on to the finisher.

   On the factory floor, a rougher handles the initial shaping of each casting.

   Oppositefinisher

3. 3
   nouncountable

   A length of woolen cloth that has been prepared for the fulling process.

   The fuller examined each rougher before treating it in the mill.

   Several roughers lay stacked near the door, awaiting the fulling vats.

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