rudiment
Americannoun
-
Usually rudiments.
-
the elements or first principles of a subject.
the rudiments of grammar.
-
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.
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
Etymology
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)
Explanation
Rudiment, usually used in the plural, means the basics. If you know the alphabet, you have the rudiments of reading at your disposal. You might learn the rudiments of cooking from your mother, but you won't become an expert until you spend time in your own kitchen. In biology, the word rudiment means an undeveloped part of an organ or limb, like you would find in an embryo or fetus.
Vocabulary lists containing rudiment
The Vocabulary.com Top 1000
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
Excerpts from "To Kill a Mockingbird"
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
“A Modest Proposal” by Jonathan Swift
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
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.
His work on “Peggy Sue,” is a deceptively simple use of paradiddles, a rudiment that most beginning drum students are taught to practice with a metronome.
From Washington Post • Aug. 25, 2022
It is also known as thyroid transcription factor 1 due to its expression in the pharyngeal thyroid rudiment in vertebrates.
From Nature • Nov. 17, 2015
It is also known as thyroid transcription factor 1 due to its expression in the pharyngeal thyroid rudiment in vertebrates.
From Nature • Nov. 17, 2015
As a technician who understands every rudiment in the book but never plays robotic licks, he's found himself in recent years with a contemporary jazz career closely associated with the creative German label ECM.
From The Guardian • Jan. 24, 2013
We were on page seventeen of the rudiment book, right?
From "Drums, Girls, and Dangerous Pie" by Jordan Sonnenblick
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
