[syn: hardness, ruggedness]
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:
Rugged \Rug"ged\, a. [See Rug, n.]
1. Full of asperities on the surface; broken into sharp or
irregular points, or otherwise uneven; not smooth; rough;
as, a rugged mountain; a rugged road.
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The rugged bark of some broad elm. --Milton.
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2. Not neat or regular; uneven.
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His well-proportioned beard made rough and rugged.
--Shak.
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3. Rough with bristles or hair; shaggy. "The rugged Russian
bear." --Shak.
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4. Harsh; hard; crabbed; austere; -- said of temper,
character, and the like, or of persons.
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Neither melt nor endear him, but leave him as hard,
rugged, and unconcerned as ever. --South.
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5. Stormy; turbulent; tempestuous; rude. --Milton.
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6. Rough to the ear; harsh; grating; -- said of sound, style,
and the like.
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Through the harsh cadence of a rugged line.
--Dryden.
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7. Sour; surly; frowning; wrinkled; -- said of looks, etc.
"Sleek o'er your rugged looks." --Shak.
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8. Violent; rude; boisterrous; -- said of conduct, manners,
etc.
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9. Vigorous; robust; hardy; -- said of health, physique, etc.
[Colloq. U.S.]
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Syn: Rough; uneven; wrinkled; cragged; coarse; rude; harsh;
hard; crabbed; severe; austere; surly; sour; frowning;
violent; boisterous; tumultuous; turbulent; stormy;
tempestuous; inclement.
[1913 Webster] -- Rug"ged*ly, adv. -- Rug"ged*ness,
n.
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WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006):
ruggedness
n 1: the property of being big and strong [syn: huskiness,
ruggedness, toughness]
2: the quality of being topologically uneven; "the ruggedness of
the mountains"
3: the quality of being difficult to do; "he assigned a series
of problems of increasing hardness"; "the ruggedness of his
exams caused half the class to fail" [syn: hardness,
ruggedness]