Definition

Noun: 1. A basic principle, element, or fundamental skill of a subject: The simplest and most essential facts or parts that must be learned first. 2. (Biology) An undeveloped or vestigial organ or part: A body part that is not fully developed or is a remnant of a structure that was functional in an earlier stage of life.

Examples

1. Basic Principle:
   • She taught me the rudiments of chess in one afternoon.
   • Before writing code, you must understand the rudiments of logic.
   • The book explains the rudiments of grammar clearly.
2. Vestigial Organ:
   • The human appendix is considered a rudiment.
   • Some snakes have pelvic bones as rudiments of legs.

Advanced Usage

• "To have/learn the rudiments of (something)": To know or acquire the most basic knowledge or skills in a field.
  • He has the rudiments of French but cannot hold a conversation.
• "In its rudiments": In its most basic or earliest form.
  • The theory was still in its rudiments when it was first proposed.

Variants and Related Words

• Rudimentary (adjective):
  • Basic or elementary: He has only a rudimentary understanding of the process.
  • Undeveloped or vestigial: The species has rudimentary wings that are not used for flight.

Synonyms

• Basic principle: Basics, fundamentals, essentials, foundation, ABCs.
• Vestigial organ: Vestige, remnant.

Antonyms

• Basic principle: Advanced concept, complexity, sophistication.
• Vestigial organ: Fully developed organ, functional structure.

Noun

1. the remains of a body part that was functional at an earlier stage of life
   • Meckel's diverticulum is the rudiment of the embryonic yolk sac
2. the elementary stages of any subject (usually plural)
   • he mastered only the rudiments of geometry