roughhouse

See also: rough-house and rough house

English

Alternative forms

• rough house
• rough-house

Etymology

From rough +‎ house.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈɹʌf.haʊs/
• IPA^(key): /ˈɹʌf.haʊz/ (verb also)

• Audio (US):

  (file)

Noun

roughhouse (uncountable)

1. rowdy behaviour

Verb

roughhouse (third-person singular simple present roughhouses, present participle roughhousing, simple past and past participle roughhoused)

1. (intransitive) To behave rowdily or violently.
   1. To play roughly (with physical roughness).

      Synonym: horseplay (verb)

      Out in the street, some delinquents were roughhousing, until the police drove by.

   2. To commit physical assault.

      Out in the street, some delinquents were roughhousing, until the police drove by.

2. (transitive) To treat (someone or something) roughly or violently.

   Synonyms: rough up, work over

   Out in the street, some delinquents were roughhousing a victim, until the police drove by.