crude

[krood]

adjective

cruder, crudest 

1. in a raw or unprepared state; unrefined or natural.

   crude sugar.

   Synonyms: coarse, unfinished
   Antonyms: refined

2. lacking in intellectual subtlety, perceptivity, etc.; rudimentary; undeveloped.

3. lacking finish, polish, or completeness.

   a crude summary.

4. lacking culture, refinement, tact, etc..

   crude behavior.

   Synonyms: clumsy, coarse, rude, rough, uncouth
   Antonyms: refined

5. undisguised; blunt.

   a crude answer.

6. Obsolete.,  unripe; not mature.

noun

1. crude oil.

crude

/ kruːd /

adjective

1. lacking taste, tact, or refinement; vulgar

   a crude joke

2. in a natural or unrefined state

3. lacking care, knowledge, or skill

   a crude sketch

4. (prenominal) stark; blunt

   the crude facts

5. (of statistical data) unclassified or unanalysed

6. archaic,  unripe

noun

1. short for crude oil

Other Word Forms

• crudity noun
• crudely adverb
• crudeness noun
• uncrude adjective
• uncrudeness noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of crude¹

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English, from Latin crūdus “uncooked, raw, bleeding, rough,” akin to cruor “blood from a wound”; raw

Word History and Origins

Origin of crude¹

C14: from Latin crūdus bloody, raw; related to Latin cruor blood

Synonym Study

See raw.

Example Sentences

With a population of around 800,000, Guyana now has one of the highest levels of proven crude oil reserves per capita in the world - and is one of the region's fastest-growing economies.

From BBC

China is still negotiating a deal with the US that would stave off crippling tariffs and possible sanctions for buying Russian crude.

From BBC

China and Russia are the biggest buyers of Russian crude oil, attracting criticism from the West that they are propping up the Russian economy which has been battered by the war effort.

From BBC

Discounted crude from Moscow remains central to its energy security.

From BBC

The refinery, owned by Petroineos, ceased processing crude oil in April, leading to the direct loss of about 400 jobs and many others in the supply chain.

From BBC

Related Words

• amateurish 
• coarse 
• harsh 
• homemade 
• makeshift 
• primitive 
• raw 
• rude 
• rudimentary 
• simple 
• unprocessed