[Elamur Dictionary](https://md.dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/) · [this page in HTML](https://dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/english/roughly/)

[dictionaries](https://md.dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/) / [English](https://md.dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/english/) / [R](https://md.dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/english/r/) / roughly

# roughly

adverb (roughly)

«roughly» in the English dictionary: everyday and in Jewish tradition — its meanings, how the lessons use it, and examples, each with its tree on Mova.

## Everyday

1. Roughly means about, not exactly: roughly 100 people. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/R/roughly/#m1)
2. Roughly means in a rough, not gentle way: He pushed me roughly. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/R/roughly/#m2)
3. Roughly also means not carefully or neatly: roughly cut pieces. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/R/roughly/#m3)

### In the lessons

In maths, «roughly» signals an estimate: rounding numbers to get a close answer quickly (398 + 205 is roughly 400 + 200 = 600). In science, measurements are often roughly given. In cooking: roughly chop the carrots. In behaviour lessons: do not play roughly with small children or pets. Phrases: roughly speaking, roughly the same, roughly equal.

### Examples

- There were roughly 30 children at the party. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/R/roughly/#x1)
- 49 is roughly 50. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/R/roughly/#x2)
- Do not treat the puppy roughly. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/R/roughly/#x3)
- Roughly chop the onion into big pieces. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/R/roughly/#x4)
- The trip takes roughly two hours. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/R/roughly/#x5)
- The two bags weigh roughly the same. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/R/roughly/#x6)
- He grabbed the ball roughly. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/R/roughly/#x7)
- Roughly speaking, half the class walks to school. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/R/roughly/#x8)
- In this place I can only roughly summarise my results. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/R/roughly/#x9)

### Note

Pronounced RUFF-lee (gh sounds like f). In maths, «roughly», «about», «approximately» and «estimate» all mean you may round; the symbol ≈ means «is roughly equal to».

## In Jewish tradition

It means harshly, as Joseph spoke to his brothers when he hid who he was.

**Interpretation.** Commentators say Joseph spoke sternly to test his brothers and see whether they had changed.

### Examples

- 'The man, the lord of the land, spoke roughly with us, and took us for spies of the country. (Torah GEN.42.30, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/R/roughly/#x1)
- And Joseph saw his brethren, and he knew them, but made himself strange unto them, and spoke roughly with them; and he said unto them: 'Whence come ye?' And they said: 'From the land of Canaan to buy food.' (Torah GEN.42.7, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/R/roughly/#x2)
- Then said David to Jonathan: 'Who shall tell me if perchance thy father answer thee roughly?' (Prophets 1SA.20.10, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/R/roughly/#x3)
- And the king answered them roughly; and king Rehoboam forsook the counsel of the old men, (Writings 2CH.10.13, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/R/roughly/#x4)
- And the king answered the people roughly, and forsook the counsel of the old men which they had given him; (Prophets 1KI.12.13, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/R/roughly/#x5)

### Note

Pronounced RUFF-lee (gh sounds like f). In maths, «roughly», «about», «approximately» and «estimate» all mean you may round; the symbol ≈ means «is roughly equal to».

## On Mova

- [Trees and pragmatics of «roughly» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/R/roughly/): every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames.
- [«roughly» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/roughly.html) on Mova free.
- [Trees and pragmatics of «roughly» in the Judaism dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/R/roughly/): every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames.
- [«roughly» in the Judaism dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/judaism/w/roughly.html) on Mova free.