Collins COBUILD Advanced Learner's English Dictionary - raw

(rawer, rawest) Frequency: The word is one of the 3000 most common words in English. 1. Raw materials or substances are in their natural state before being processed or used in manufacturing. We import raw materials and energy and export mainly industrial products. ...two ships carrying raw sugar from Cuba. ADJ: usu ADJ n 2. Raw food is food that is eaten uncooked, that has not yet been cooked, or that has not been cooked enough. ...a popular dish made of raw fish... This versatile vegetable can be eaten raw or cooked... ADJ 3. If a part of your body is raw, it is red and painful, perhaps because the skin has come off or has been burnt. ...the drag of the rope against the raw flesh of my shoulders... ADJ 4. Raw emotions are strong basic feelings or responses which are not weakened by other influences. Her grief was still raw and he did not know how to help her. ADJ: usu ADJ n 5. If you describe something as raw, you mean that it is simple, powerful, and real. ...the raw power of instinct. ADJ: usu ADJ n 6. Raw data is facts or information that has not yet been sorted, analysed, or prepared for use. Analyses were conducted on the raw data. ADJ: usu ADJ n 7. If you describe someone in a new job as raw, or as a raw recruit, you mean that they lack experience in that job. ...replacing experienced men with raw recruits... = inexperienced ? experienced ADJ: usu ADJ n 8. Raw weather feels unpleasantly cold. ...a raw December morning. = bitter ADJ 9. Raw sewage is sewage that has not been treated to make it cleaner. ...contamination of bathing water by raw sewage. = untreated ADJ: ADJ n 10. If you say that you are getting a raw deal, you mean that you are being treated unfairly. (INFORMAL) I think women have a raw deal. ? a fair deal PHRASE: v PHR 11. to touch a raw nerve: see nerve