WordGarden.iocoarsen
C2Pronunciation
UK
- /kˈɔːsən/
US
Meanings
Verb
to make or become rougher, thicker, or less fine in texture
to make or become cruder or less refined in style, behavior, or language
Beyond the definition
Imagine silk slowly turning into burlap – that's the essence of "coarsen." It describes something becoming rougher in texture, quality, or even behavior. A once-smooth conversation can coarsen with harsh words, just as finely ground grain can be coarsened by a coarser milling process. You might say a person's manners coarsen over time if they become less polite and more gruff. It's about losing refinement and becoming cruder or blunter. Think of it like polishing a stone versus chipping away at it – coarsening is the chipping!
To "coarsen" means to make something rougher or less refined—less fine in texture or in taste. This can apply in several ways. Physically, it describes a change in texture: a mixture becomes coarser when fine sand is blended with pebbles, and skin can coarsen after years of exposure to harsh weather and wind.
But "coarsen" isn't limited to the physical world. It also applies to language, behavior, and even character. A polite discussion can coarsen into an argument filled with insults. Someone who once had gentle manners might have their personality coarsened by hardship or bad company. A writer's style could coarsen if they trade nuance for bluntness or crudity.
The word implies a decline in quality, subtlety, or sophistication. It suggests a loss of smoothness, delicacy, or grace. You usually wouldn’t use it to describe a painting’s beauty itself; you might say it was defaced or ruined. But you would say the tone of a public debate coarsened as the participants began to resort to shouting and name-calling.
Historically, the word is the verb form of the adjective "coarse" – meaning rough or lacking in refinement. It carries a subtle judgment about a loss of quality and a move toward crudeness. So, whether it's texture, speech, or behavior, to coarsen is to become less smooth, refined, or delicate.
Examples
- 1
Fabric texture
The fabric may coarsen if you keep washing it in very hot water.
- 2
Physical effects
Years of outdoor work had coarsened his hands.
- 3
Public debate
As the election campaign grew more hostile, the public debate began to coarsen.
See also
Forms and spellings
4 forms open this card.
Main spelling
- coarsenverb
Forms
- coarsening-ing formverb
- coarsenedpast tenseverb
- coarsensverb