crude

UK: /ˈkruːd/ US: /krud/ ,(kro̅o̅d)

Inflections of 'crude' (adj):

cruder

adj comparative

crudest

adj superlative

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2026

crude /krud/   adj., crud•er, crud•est, n. 
adj. 

1. in a raw or unrefined state:
   crude sugar; crude oil.
2. showing a lack of polish or skill;
   rough;
   undeveloped:
   a crude shelter; a crude drawing.
3. lacking culture, refinement, etc.;
   vulgar:
   crude behavior.

n. [uncountable]

4. Chemistry crude oil.

crude•ly, adv. 
crude•ness, n. [uncountable]

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026

crude  (kro̅o̅d), adj., crud•er, crud•est, n. 
adj. 

1. in a raw or unprepared state;
   unrefined or natural:
   crude sugar.
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.
5. undisguised;
   blunt:
   a crude answer.
6. [Obs.] unripe;
   not mature.

n. 

7. Chemistry See crude oil. 

• Latin crūdus uncooked, raw, bleeding, rough, akin to cruor blood from a wound; see raw
• Middle English 1350–1400

crude′ly, adv. 
crude′ness, n. 
Synonyms

• 1. unfinished, coarse. See raw. 
• 4. uncouth, rough, rude, coarse, clumsy.

Antonyms

• 1, 4. refined.

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

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

noun

1. short for crude oil

Etymology: 14th Century: from Latin crūdus bloody, raw; related to Latin cruor blood

ˈcrudely adverb

ˈcrudity, ˈcrudeness noun