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asper

1 American  
[as-per] / ˈæs pər /

adjective

Obsolete.
  1. harsh; rough.


asper 2 American  
[as-per] / ˈæs pər /

noun

  1. a former silver coin of Turkey and Egypt: later a money of account equal to 1/120 of a piaster.


asper British  
/ ˈæspə /

noun

  1. a former Turkish monetary unit, a silver coin, worth 1/ 120 of a piastre

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of asper1

1325–75; < Latin: rough; replacing Middle English aspre < Middle French

Origin of asper1

1580–90; < Italian aspero < Medieval Greek áspron literally, white coin, noun use of neuter of áspros white

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

There are more than 1,600 species of bamboo, and BamCore's preferred is Dendrocalamus asper, more commonly known as Giant Clumping bamboo, which they import from South America and Asia.

From BBC

Unless it is a fer-de-lance, or bothrops asper, a nasty pit viper found in Central and South America.

From The Guardian

The spiritus asper is caused by a too slow contraction of the vocal cords and their too gradual approach for phonation.

From Project Gutenberg

The word "asper" is the first descriptive adjective applied by Michelius.

From Project Gutenberg

Lepiota asperula Atkinson.—This lepiota resembles A. asper in some respects, but it is smaller and the spores are much smaller, being very minute.

From Project Gutenberg