roughage — English Dictionary

Noun

1. Originally (archaic), garbage, rubbish, or waste; later (agriculture) the portions of a crop which are discarded, such as husks, stalks, etc.; also, agricultural waste such as weeds.

   Usage

   • Countable
   • Uncountable

   Antonyms

   nonroughage

2. Coarse or rough plant material such as hay and silage used as animal fodder.

   Usage

   • Countable
   • Uncountable

3. Substances, generally of plant origin, consisting mostly of complex carbohydrates which are undigested when eaten by humans, and which therefore help the passage of food and waste through the alimentary tract; dietary fibre.

   Usage

   • Countable
   • Uncountable

   Antonyms

   nonroughage

   Examples

   I keep telling her not to eat all that roughage for brekky; prunes, bran, and baked beans.

Noun

1. coarse, indigestible plant food low in nutrients; its bulk stimulates intestinal peristalsis

   Synonyms

   fiberfibre

   Broader terms

   foodstufffood product