rudiment

[ roo-duh-muh nt ]
/ ˈru də mənt /
SEE SYNONYMS FOR rudiment ON THESAURUS.COM

noun

Usually rudiments.
  1. the elements or first principles of a subject: the rudiments of grammar.
  2. a mere beginning, first slight appearance, or undeveloped or imperfect form of something: the rudiments of a plan.
Biology. an organ or part incompletely developed in size or structure, as one in an embryonic stage, one arrested in growth, or one with no functional activity, as a vestige.

Origin of rudiment

1540–50; < Latin rudīmentum early training, first experience, initial stage, equivalent to rudi(s) unformed, rough (see rude) + -mentum -ment ( -ī- for -i- after verbal derivatives)

Words nearby rudiment

ruddy turnstone, rude, rude awakening, ruderal, rudesheimer, rudiment, rudimentary, rudish, rudny, rudolf, rudolf i

Words related to rudiment

foundation, bottom, groundwork, support, footing, rest, seat, base, bed, fundamental, fundament, foot, root, cornerstone, ground, substructure, hint, aspect, unit, basic

Example sentences from the Web for rudiment

British Dictionary definitions for rudiment

rudiment
/ (ˈruːdɪmənt) /

noun

(often plural) the first principles or elementary stages of a subject
(often plural) a partially developed version of something
biology an organ or part in its earliest recognizable form, esp one in an embryonic or vestigial state

Word Origin for rudiment

C16: from Latin rudīmentum a beginning, from rudis unformed; see rude

Medical definitions for rudiment

rudiment
[ rōō′də-mənt ]

n.

An imperfectly or incompletely developed organ or part.
Something in an incipient or undeveloped form. Often used in the plural.