cruder; crudest
1
: very simple and basic : made or done in a way that does not show a lot of skill
crude tools
a crude instrument/drawing
They built a crude shelter out of branches.
2
: rude in a way that makes people uncomfortable
especially
: talking about sexual matters in a rude way
They tell a lot of crude [=vulgar] jokes.
3
: very simple and basic in a way that is true but not complete
a crude summary of the country's history
a crude theory
a crude [=rough] estimate
She first described the procedure in crude terms, and then went into more detail.
: oil as it exists in the ground : petroleum that is not yet ready to be used as fuel
called also crude oil
Cite this Entry
“Crude.” Merriam-Webster.com Simple Definition, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/simple/crude. Accessed 16 Apr. 2026.
Copy Citation
