rudiment

• Nom désignant les principes fondamentaux ou élémentaires d'un sujet, ou un organe résiduel atrophié ou non développé.

A noun referring to the basic or elementary principles of a subject, or to a vestigial or undeveloped part of an organism.

1. Basic principles or elementsC1formal

   The first principles or elementary stages of a subject or skill.

   principes élémentaires

   • He learned the rudiments of cooking from his grandmother.
   • The course covers the rudiments of economics.
   • She mastered the rudiments of the language in just a few months.

   Synonymesfoundationgroundworknuts and bolts

2. Vestigial or undeveloped partC2formalscientific

   A body part or organ that is incompletely developed or that remains from an earlier stage of development.

   Partie vestigiale ou non développée

   • The human appendix is considered a rudiment of a larger organ.
   • Some snakes have rudiments of hind legs.
   • The wings of flightless birds are rudiments of their ancestors' wings.

   Synonymesrelicremnanttracevestige