Coarse vs. Fine: Know the Difference
By Shumaila Saeed || Updated on December 25, 2023
Coarse refers to something rough, large in grain, or lacking in fineness. Fine denotes smoothness, small grain size, or high quality.
Key Differences
Coarse describes materials or textures that are rough or irregular, often felt through touch, like coarse sandpaper. Fine, in contrast, refers to textures or materials that are smooth to the touch, like fine silk.
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Nov 20, 2023
In granularity, coarse implies larger particles or less refinement, such as coarse ground coffee. Fine suggests smaller particles and greater refinement, like fine powder.
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Nov 20, 2023
Coarse can also describe a lack of sophistication in behavior or language, indicating rudeness or vulgarity. Fine, in the context of behavior or aesthetics, often implies elegance, delicacy, or high quality.
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Nov 20, 2023
When used in the context of workmanship or detail, coarse suggests a lack of precision or detail, like a coarse sketch. Fine denotes precision and attention to detail, such as fine craftsmanship.
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Nov 20, 2023
In sensory perception, coarse can relate to a harsh or strong taste or smell, while Fine often refers to subtlety and sophistication in flavors or aromas.
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Nov 20, 2023
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Comparison Chart
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Coarse and Fine Definitions
Coarse
Having a rough or uneven surface.
The coarse fabric was uncomfortable against my skin.
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Nov 20, 2023
Coarse
Composed of large, discernible particles.
Coarse sand is used in construction.
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Nov 20, 2023
Coarse
Intensely flavored or pungent.
The coarse seasoning dominated the dish.
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Nov 20, 2023
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Coarse
Lacking refinement or politeness.
His coarse language offended the guests.
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Nov 20, 2023
Coarse
Lacking in detail or sophistication.
She drew a coarse sketch of the landscape.
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Nov 20, 2023
Fine
(Metallurgy) Containing pure metal in a specified proportion or amount
Gold 21 carats fine.
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Oct 19, 2023
Fine
Able to make or detect effects of great subtlety or precision; sensitive
Has a fine eye for color.
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Oct 19, 2023
Fine
Being in a state of satisfactory health; quite well
"How are you?" "I'm fine.".
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Oct 19, 2023
Coarse
Large in bulk, or composed of large parts or particles; of inferior quality or appearance; not fine in material or close in texture; gross; thick; rough; - opposed to fine; as, coarse sand; coarse thread; coarse cloth; coarse bread.
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Oct 19, 2023
Coarse
Not refined; rough; rude; unpolished; gross; indelicate; as, coarse manners; coarse language.
I feelOf what coarse metal ye are molded.
To copy, in my coarse English, his beautiful expressions.
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Oct 19, 2023
Coarse
Of texture; large-grained or rough to the touch;
Coarse meal
Coarse sand
A coarse weave
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Oct 19, 2023
Coarse
Lacking refinement or cultivation or taste;
He had coarse manners but a first-rate mind
Behavior that branded him as common
An untutored and uncouth human being
An uncouth soldier--a real tough guy
Appealing to the vulgar taste for violence
The vulgar display of the newly rich
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Oct 19, 2023
Coarse
Of low or inferior quality or value;
Of what coarse metal ye are molded
Produced...the common cloths used by the poorer population
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Oct 19, 2023
Coarse
Conspicuously and tastelessly indecent;
Coarse language
A crude joke
Crude behavior
An earthy sense of humor
A revoltingly gross expletive
A vulgar gesture
Full of language so vulgar it should have been edited
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Oct 19, 2023
Fine
A sum of money required to be paid especially to the government as a penalty for an offense.
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Oct 19, 2023
Fine
Of superior quality.
The tree frog that they encountered was truly a fine specimen.
Only a really fine wine could fully complement Lucía's hand-made pasta.
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Oct 19, 2023
Fine
(ironic) Impressively bad, inappropriate, or unsatisfactory.
You're a fine one to talk about laziness.
Here's another fine mess you've gotten us into.
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Oct 19, 2023
Fine
(informal) Being acceptable, adequate, passable, or satisfactory.
How are you today? – Fine.
Will this one do? It's got a dent in it. – Yeah, it'll be fine, I guess.
It's fine with me if you stay out late, so long as you're back by three.
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Oct 19, 2023
Fine
(informal) Good-looking, attractive.
That man is so fine that I'd jump into his pants without a moment's hesitation.
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Oct 19, 2023
Fine
An answer often used to cover an unnecessary explanation, rather to avoid conflict or an argument. Saying "I'm fine" can be used to avoid inquiry when the speaker is not really okay.
Do you want to talk about what happened? – [sharply, with annoyance or discomfort] I'm fine!
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Oct 19, 2023
Fine
Of a particular grade of quality, usually between very good and very fine, and below mint.
The small scratch meant that his copy of “X-Men #2” was merely fine when it otherwise would have been “near mint”.
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Oct 19, 2023
Fine
Consisting of especially minute particulates; made up of particularly small pieces.
Grind it into a fine powder.
When she touched the artifact, it collapsed into a heap of fine dust.
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Oct 19, 2023
Fine
Particularly slender; especially thin, narrow, or of small girth.
The threads were so fine that you had to look through a magnifying glass to see them.
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Oct 19, 2023
Fine
Made of slender or thin filaments.
They protected themselves from the small parasites with a fine wire mesh.
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Fine
Having a (specified) proportion of pure metal in its composition.
Coins nine tenths fine.
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Oct 19, 2023
Fine
(cricket) Behind the batsman and at a small angle to the line between the wickets.
...to nudge it through the covers (or tickle it down to fine leg) for a fournb...
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Oct 19, 2023
Fine
In a manner so that the driven ball strikes the object ball so far to one side as to be barely deflected, the object ball being driven to one side.
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Oct 19, 2023
Fine
Something that is fine; fine particles.
They filtered silt and fines out of the soil.
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Oct 19, 2023
Fine
A fee levied as punishment for breaking the law.
The fine for jay-walking has gone from two dollars to thirty in the last fifteen years.
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Oct 19, 2023
Fine
(obsolete) Money paid by a tenant on the commencement of a tenancy so that his or her rent may be small or nominal.
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Oct 19, 2023
Fine
(Cantab slang) A drink that must be taken during a meal or as part of a drinking game, following an announcement that anyone who has done some (usually outrageous) deed is to be fined; similar to I have never; commonly associated with swaps; very similar to a sconce at Oxford University, though a fine is the penalty itself rather than the act of issuing it.
Fine if you've…
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Oct 19, 2023
Fine
(music) The location in a musical score that indicates the end of the piece, particularly when the piece ends somewhere in the middle of the score due to a section of the music being repeated.
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Oct 19, 2023
Fine
(feudal law) A final agreement concerning lands or rents between persons, as the lord and his vassal.
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Fine
A sum of money or price paid for obtaining a benefit, favor, or privilege, as for admission to a copyhold, or for obtaining or renewing a lease.
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Fine
(transitive) To make finer, purer, or cleaner; to purify or clarify.
To fine gold
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Fine
To change by fine gradations.
To fine down a ship's lines, i.e. to diminish her lines gradually
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Fine
To become gradually fine; to diminish; to dwindle (with away, down, or off).
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Fine
(transitive) To issue a fine as punishment to (someone).
She was fined a thousand dollars for littering, but she appealed.
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Oct 19, 2023
Fine
Finished; brought to perfection; refined; hence, free from impurity; excellent; superior; elegant; worthy of admiration; accomplished; beautiful.
The gain thereof [is better] than fine gold.
A cup of wine that's brisk and fine.
Not only the finest gentleman of his time, but one of the finest scholars.
To soothe the sick bed of so fine a being [Keats].
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Oct 19, 2023
Fine
Aiming at show or effect; loaded with ornament; overdressed or overdecorated; showy.
He gratified them with occasional . . . fine writing.
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Oct 19, 2023
Fine
Nice; delicate; subtle; exquisite; artful; skillful; dexterous.
The spider's touch, how exquisitely fine!
The nicest and most delicate touches of satire consist in fine raillery.
He has as fine a hand at picking a pocket as a woman.
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Oct 19, 2023
Fine
Not coarse, gross, or heavy
The eye standeth in the finer medium and the object in the grosser.
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Oct 19, 2023
Fine
Having (such) a proportion of pure metal in its composition; as, coins nine tenths fine.
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Oct 19, 2023
Fine
To make fine; to refine; to purify, to clarify; as, to fine gold.
It hath been fined and refined by . . . learned men.
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Oct 19, 2023
Fine
To make finer, or less coarse, as in bulk, texture, etc.; as. to fine the soil.
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Oct 19, 2023
Fine
To change by fine gradations; as (Naut.), to fine down a ship's lines, to diminish her lines gradually.
I often sate at homeOn evenings, watching how they fined themselvesWith gradual conscience to a perfect night.
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Oct 19, 2023
Fine
To impose a pecuniary penalty upon for an offense or breach of law; to set a fine on by judgment of a court; to punish by fine; to mulct; as, the trespassers were fined ten dollars.
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Oct 19, 2023
Fine
To become fine (in any one of various senses); as, the ale will fine; the weather fined.
I watched her [the ship] . . . gradually fining down in the westward until I lost of her hull.
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Oct 19, 2023
Fine
End; conclusion; termination; extinction.
Is this the fine of his fines?
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Oct 19, 2023
Fine
A sum of money paid as the settlement of a claim, or by way of terminating a matter in dispute; especially, a payment of money imposed upon a party as a punishment for an offense; a mulct.
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Oct 19, 2023
Fine
A final agreement concerning lands or rents between persons, as the lord and his vassal.
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Oct 19, 2023
Fine
A sum of money or price paid for obtaining a benefit, favor, or privilege, as for admission to a copyhold, or for obtaining or renewing a lease.
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Oct 19, 2023
Fine
In a manner so that the driven ball strikes the object ball so far to one side as to be deflected but little, the object ball being driven to one side.
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Oct 19, 2023
Fine
Issue a ticket or a fine to as a penalty;
I was fined for parking on the wrong side of the street
Move your car or else you will be ticketed!
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Oct 19, 2023
Fine
Superior to the average;
In fine spirits
A fine student
Made good grades
Morale was good
Had good weather for the parade
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Oct 19, 2023
Fine
Being satisfactory or in satisfactory condition;
An all-right movie
The passengers were shaken up but are all right
Is everything all right?
Everything's fine
Things are okay
Dinner and the movies had been fine
Another minute I'd have been fine
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Oct 19, 2023
Fine
Minutely precise especially in differences in meaning;
A fine distinction
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Oct 19, 2023
Fine
Of texture; being small-grained or smooth to the touch or having fine particles;
Wood with a fine grain
Fine powdery snow
Fine rain
Batiste is a cotton fabric with a fine weave
Covered with a fine film of dust
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Oct 19, 2023
Fine
Being in good health;
He's feeling all right again
I'm fine, how are you?
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Oct 19, 2023
Fine
Thin in thickness or diameter;
A fine film of oil
Fine hairs
Read the fine print
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Oct 19, 2023
Fine
Characterized by elegance or refinement or accomplishment;
Fine wine
Looking fine in her Easter suit
A fine gentleman
Fine china and crystal
A fine violinist
The fine hand of a master
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Oct 19, 2023
Fine
; free or impurities; having a high or specified degree of purity;
Gold 21 carats fine
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Oct 19, 2023
Fine
(of weather) pleasant; not raining, perhaps with the sun shining;
A fine summer evening
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Oct 19, 2023
Fine
Consisting of tiny, fine particles.
She sifted the fine flour for the cake.
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Nov 20, 2023
Fine
Characterized by precision or intricacy.
The watch was a masterpiece of fine engineering.
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Nov 20, 2023
Fine
Delicate or refined in taste.
The fine herbs gave a subtle flavor to the soup.
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Nov 20, 2023
Repeatedly Asked Queries
Can foods be described as coarse?
Yes, foods with rough texture or strong taste can be called coarse.
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Nov 20, 2023
Is fine always related to texture?
No, fine can also refer to quality, detail, or subtlety.
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Nov 20, 2023
Is fine a compliment?
Often, fine is used to indicate high quality or sophistication.
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Nov 20, 2023
Can coarse be used in art?
Yes, coarse can describe art that is rough or lacking in detail.
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Nov 20, 2023
Does fine imply delicacy?
Fine often suggests delicacy or subtlety in various contexts.
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Nov 20, 2023
Are coarse materials uncomfortable?
Coarse materials can be uncomfortable due to their rough texture.
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Nov 20, 2023
Can coarse refer to a person's behavior?
Yes, coarse can describe rude or unrefined behavior.
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Nov 20, 2023
Can coarse be positive?
In some contexts, like coarse sea salt, it can be considered positive.
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Nov 20, 2023
Is fine always positive?
Mostly, but in some contexts, it can imply something is adequate but not excellent.
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Nov 20, 2023
Is coarse suitable for sensitive skin?
Coarse materials are generally not recommended for sensitive skin.
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Nov 20, 2023
Is coarse language inappropriate?
Coarse language is often considered rude or vulgar.
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Nov 20, 2023
Does fine mean 'okay' in some contexts?
Yes, fine can mean satisfactory or acceptable in casual speech.
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Nov 20, 2023
Does coarse mean the same as rough?
In many contexts, coarse and rough are synonymous.
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Nov 20, 2023
Does fine always mean small in size?
In many cases, fine implies small size or granularity.
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Nov 20, 2023
Can fine describe music?
Yes, fine can describe music that is intricate and well-executed.
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Nov 20, 2023
Does fine art mean expensive art?
Fine art refers to quality and craftsmanship, not necessarily price.
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Nov 20, 2023
Are coarse materials durable?
Coarse materials can be durable, but not always.
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Nov 20, 2023
Can coarse grains be used in cooking?
Yes, coarse grains are often used for texture in cooking.
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Nov 20, 2023
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About Author
Written by
Shumaila SaeedShumaila Saeed, an expert content creator with 6 years of experience, specializes in distilling complex topics into easily digestible comparisons, shining a light on the nuances that both inform and educate readers with clarity and accuracy.
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