Rudimentary: meaning, example and synonyms

Rudimentaryadj. Basic, simple, or undeveloped; involving only the first principles.

Flashcard for Rudimentary (adjective): basic, simple, or undeveloped; involving only the first principles. Example: Although the first prototype was rudimentary, little more than a motor and a wooden frame, it proved that the design could fly. Synonyms: basic, elementary, primitive, crude. Antonyms: advanced, sophisticated, complex, developed. Memory tip: Latin rudis = "rough, untrained": just the rough beginnings. Illustration: a simple handmade wooden glider model with a tiny propeller on a workbench beside sketches.

Example

Although the first prototype was rudimentary, little more than a motor and a wooden frame, it proved that the design could fly.

Part of speech
adjective
Synonyms
basic, elementary, primitive, crude
Antonyms
advanced, sophisticated, complex, developed
Memory tip
Latin rudis = "rough, untrained": just the rough beginnings.

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Check yourself: Rudimentary in context

Pick the word that best completes each text, as on the SAT's words-in-context questions.

Question 1

The village's first water system was ______: a single hand pump and a set of clay pipes running to the main square.

Question 2

Although his Spanish was only ______, he managed to order meals and ask for directions during his first week abroad.

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