rudiment
n
1 rudiments [pl]
~s (of sth)
(a) basic or elementary principles (of a subject) (某一学科的)基础, 基本原理
master the rudiments of economics 精通经济学的基本原理.
(b) imperfect beginning of sth that is not yet fully developed 初级形态
working on the rudiments of a new idea 研究一种新思想的萌芽.
2 [C] part or organ that is incompletely developed 未充分发展的部分; 发育不成熟的器官
the rudiment(s) of a tail 未完全发育的尾巴.