crude
- 01 B2 Upper Intermediate
in a natural state and not yet cleaned or processed.
existing in a natural state and not yet subjected to refining or manufacture.
Simple“The factory processes crude sugar into the white crystals we buy in shops.”
In context“The environmental impact of transporting crude materials across the ocean remains a significant concern for international regulatory bodies.”
- 02 B2 Upper Intermediate
made in a simple or rough way without much skill.
characterised by a lack of sophistication, detail, or expert workmanship.
Simple“They built a crude shelter out of branches to stay dry during the storm.”
In context“Early explorers often relied on crude maps that lacked precise longitudinal data but provided essential landmarks for coastal navigation.”
Antonyms - 03 C1 Advanced
rude and likely to offend people.
lacking in culture, refinement, or tact; often used to describe offensive language or jokes.
Simple“He was asked to leave the party after making several crude remarks.”
In context“The comedian's reliance on crude humour alienated a significant portion of the audience who had expected a more nuanced performance.”
- 04 C1 Advanced
describing a number or statistic that has not been changed to show more detail.
referring to statistics or data that have not been adjusted for specific factors or variables.
Simple“The crude birth rate shows the number of births per thousand people.”
In context“While the crude data suggested a correlation, the researchers needed to control for age and income before drawing a final conclusion.”
Usage crude oil
“Haustveit said Washington was also helping to scale up production in Venezuela, noting that the US is sending more than 100,000 bpd of naphtha to the country, where it is blended with heavier crude.”
“At the same time, refining capacity – the facilities that convert crude oil into products, such as diesel fuel and gasoline – has been extremely compromised.”
From Middle English crude, borrowed from Latin crūdus (“raw, bloody, uncooked, undigested, crude”). Doublet of crudo, from Italian. Cognate with Old English hrēaw (“raw, uncooked”) via Proto-Indo-European *krewh₂- (“raw blood”); more at raw.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.