roughen

[ ruhf-uhn ]

verb (used with or without object)

1. to make or become rough or rougher. rougher.

roughen

/ ˈrʌfən /

verb

1. to make or become rough

Other Words From

• roughen·er noun
• un·roughened adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of roughen¹

First recorded in 1580–90; rough + -en ¹

Example Sentences

Red whirls on this rabbit’s tongue are filiform papillae, which roughen the tongue and help move food around the mouth.

From New York Times

Mark was the timid new kid then, which Darren, roughened up from life with an abusive father, exploited in their game of chicken.

From New York Times

The general idea is that ground surfaces roughen after the mass movement of rocks and soil, so that landslide deposits are the roughest right after the landslide occurs and become smoother over time.

From Science Daily

Auto-tune aside, fans will notice that Thorn's voice has deepened and roughened.

From BBC

Though it may seem counterintuitive, roughening a ball’s surface delays the separation of the boundary layer and keeps a ball in turbulent flow longer.

From Scientific American

Related Words

• beat up
• maltreat
• manhandle
• mistreat