coarse-grained
Like sandpaper's surface
Coarse-grained describes something made up of large particles or components.
Sand can be coarse-grained, as can wood with prominent, visible grain patterns.
In technical contexts—computing, modeling, analysis—coarse-grained means dealing with large, undifferentiated units rather than fine detail: a coarse-grained simulation that sacrifices precision for speed.
The opposite is fine-grained.
Poor image clarity
- pixelatedComposed of visible squares
- blockyResembling stacked cubes
- chunkyThick and lumpy
- approximateNearly accurate but inexact
imprecise · broad-brush · overview · summary · aggregated · simplified · generalized · abstracted
Coarse or courageous
- roughUneven in surface
- sandpaperAbrasive-coated finishing material
- abrasiveRough enough to erode
- pebblyCovered in small stones
gravelly · unpolished · unrefined · bumpy · jagged · scratchy · raspy · nubby
Broad general summary
- broadWide in span
- holisticAddressing interconnected wholes
- sweepingExtensive and far-reaching
- big-pictureComprehensive overall perspective
top-down · aggregate · simplified · approximate · generalized · categorical · clustered · grouped
Matching structural elements
- threadingPassing strand through opening
- distributedDivided and given out
- chunkedDivided into portions
- batchQuantity produced together
partitioned · segmented · workload · scheduling · synchronization · decomposition
low-resolution
Poor image clarity
approximate · imprecise · broad-brush · overview · summary · aggregated · simplified · generalized · abstracted · high-level
gritty
Coarse or courageous
pebbly · gravelly · unpolished · unrefined · bumpy · jagged · scratchy · raspy · nubby · ridged
overview
Broad general summary
big-picture · top-down · aggregate · simplified · approximate · generalized · categorical · clustered · grouped · binned
parallelism
Matching structural elements
- threadingPassing strand through opening
- distributedDivided and given out
- chunkedDivided into portions
batch · partitioned · segmented · workload · scheduling · synchronization · decomposition
- rock texturesgritty, massive, foliated, laminated, graded
- plutonic rocksgranite, gabbro, diorite, pink granite, white granite
coarse-grainedfine-grained
Composed of minute particles
detailed · granular · high-resolution · precise · nuanced
grain, coarse, grains, grainy, granular, grained, coarseness, coarsely, granulated