1(of food) not cooked:raw eggssalsify can be eaten raw in salads
(of a material or substance) in its natural state; unprocessed:raw silkraw sewage
(of data) not analysed, evaluated, or processed for use:there were a number of errors in the raw data
2(of a part of the body) red and painful, especially as the result of skin abrasion:he scrubbed his hands until they were raw
(of a person’s nerves) very sensitive:Fran’s nerves were raw
3(of an emotion or quality) strong and undisguised:he exuded an air of raw, vibrant masculinity
frank and realistic in the depiction of unpleasant situations:a raw, uncompromising portrait
US informal (of language) coarse or crude, typically in relation to sexual matters:his wife has led a campaign against raw lyrics in rock music
4(of the weather) cold and damp; bleak:a raw February night
5new to an activity or job and therefore lacking experience or skill:they were replaced by raw recruits
6(of the edge of a piece of cloth) not having a hem or selvedge:oversewing is used to neaten raw edges
7South African derogatory from a traditional tribal or rural culture:they are mainly raw tribesmen who are intensely conservative
don't come the raw prawn with me
Australian informal don’t treat me like a foolish or gullible person:don’t come the raw prawn with me mate, I can get it at home for that price
in the raw
1in its true state; in a starkly realistic way:he didn’t much care for nature in the raw
2 informal naked:I slept in the raw
a raw deal
informal a situation in which someone receives unfair or harsh treatment:pensioners have had a raw deal
touch someone on the raw
British upset someone by referring to a subject about which they are extremely sensitive:you’ve touched him on the raw—no man likes to have his driving criticized
