Word
crude
Meanings
rough and not refined or carefully made; basic or approximate
rude or offensive, especially in a direct or insensitive way
in its natural, unprocessed state (especially oil)
Definition
Crude describes something that is rough, unsophisticated, or not carefully made or expressed.
Crude can describe something that lacks refinement, skill, or polish, such as a simple drawing, estimate, or tool. It can also describe language, jokes, or behavior that seems offensive or lacking in sensitivity. In science and industry, crude often means “unprocessed,” especially in the phrase “crude oil.”
Examples
- I deleted my first draft because it sounded crude and rushed.
- You can’t call your colleague names and pretend it was just crude humor.
- He offered a crude sketch of the interface to clarify his idea.
- She was shocked by the crude remark and changed the subject immediately.
- They tracked how crude oil prices reacted to the supply disruption.
Common mistake
Learners often confuse crude with raw; raw usually means “not cooked/processed,” while crude often implies roughness, lack of refinement, or offensiveness.
More at C1 level
- ubiquitous Present, appearing, or found everywhere at the same time.
- xenophobia Xenophobia is a strong dislike or fear of people from other countries or cultures.
- genocide Genocide is the deliberate killing of a large number of people from a particular group in order to …
- conundrum A conundrum is a confusing and difficult problem to solve.
- pretentious Trying to seem more important, intelligent, or cultured than you really are.
More adjectives
- agnostic An agnostic is someone who does not claim to know whether God exists.
- pragmatic Pragmatic means focused on practical results rather than ideals or theories.
- ubiquitous Present, appearing, or found everywhere at the same time.
- cynical Cynical describes believing that people are mainly motivated by self-interest and not sincere.
- apathetic Apathetic means showing little or no interest, concern, or enthusiasm.