COARSEN

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does coarsen mean? 

• COARSEN (verb)
  The verb COARSEN has 2 senses:

1. make or become coarse or coarser

2. make less subtle or refined

  Familiarity information: COARSEN used as a verb is rare.

 Dictionary entry details 

• COARSEN (verb)

Present simple: I / you / we / they coarsen    ... he / she / it coarsens   
Past simple: coarsened   
Past participle: coarsened   
-ing form: coarsening   

Sense 1

Meaning:

Make or become coarse or coarser

Classified under:

Verbs of touching, hitting, tying, digging

Context example:

Their minds coarsened

Hypernyms (to "coarsen" is one way to...):

alter; change; modify (cause to change; make different; cause a transformation)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s something
Something ----s something

Sense 2

Meaning:

Make less subtle or refined

Classified under:

Verbs of size, temperature change, intensifying, etc.

Context example:

coarsen one's ideals

Hypernyms (to "coarsen" is one way to...):

alter; change; modify (cause to change; make different; cause a transformation)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s something
Something ----s something