RUDE

Pronunciation (US):

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IPA (US):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does rude mean? 

• RUDE (adjective)
  The adjective RUDE has 5 senses:

1. socially incorrect in behavior

2. (of persons) lacking in refinement or grace

3. lacking civility or good manners

4. (used especially of commodities) being unprocessed or manufactured using only simple or minimal processes

5. belonging to an early stage of technical development; characterized by simplicity and (often) crudeness

  Familiarity information: RUDE used as an adjective is common.

 Dictionary entry details 

• RUDE (adjective)

Comparative: ruder   
Superlative: rudest   

Sense 1

Meaning:

Socially incorrect in behavior

Synonyms:

bad-mannered; ill-mannered; rude; unmannered; unmannerly

Context example:

resentment flared at such an unmannered intrusion

Similar:

impolite (not polite)

Derivation:

rudeness (a manner that is rude and insulting)

Sense 2

Meaning:

(of persons) lacking in refinement or grace

Synonyms:

bounderish; ill-bred; lowbred; rude; underbred; yokelish

Similar:

unrefined ((used of persons and their behavior) not refined; uncouth)

Sense 3

Meaning:

Lacking civility or good manners

Synonyms:

rude; uncivil

Context example:

want nothing from you but to get away from your uncivil tongue

Attribute:

civility (formal or perfunctory politeness)

Derivation:

rudeness (a manner that is rude and insulting)

Sense 4

Meaning:

(used especially of commodities) being unprocessed or manufactured using only simple or minimal processes

Synonyms:

natural; raw; rude

Context example:

bales of rude cotton

Similar:

unprocessed (not altered from an original or natural state)

Sense 5

Meaning:

Belonging to an early stage of technical development; characterized by simplicity and (often) crudeness

Synonyms:

crude; primitive; rude

Context example:

primitive living conditions in the Appalachian mountains

Similar:

early (being or occurring at an early stage of development)

Derivation:

rudeness (a wild or unrefined state)

 Context examples 

The little red warriors hung upon the words of the speaker, and when he had finished they burst into a roar of applause, waving their rude weapons in the air.

(The Lost World, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

The lawyer took that rude but weighty instrument into his hand, and balanced it.

(The Strange Case Of Dr. Jekyll And Mr. Hyde, by Robert Louis Stevenson)

You must have thought me so rude; but indeed it was not my own fault, was it, Mrs. Allen?

(Northanger Abbey, by Jane Austen)

No, but it was very rude.

(Little Women, by Louisa May Alcott)

“A rude fellow,” said our guide, flushing with anger as we withdrew down the stair.

(The Return of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

"Good!" said the Professor, "both good. But neither must go alone. There must be force to overcome force if need be; the Slovak is strong and rough, and he carries rude arms."

(Dracula, by Bram Stoker)

A sheet of vellum lay upon the board in front of him, and he held a pen in his hand, with which he had been scribbling in a rude schoolboy hand.

(The White Company, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

“I can’t help that,” cried the woman, in a rude voice.

(Rodney Stone, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

Perhaps Fanny thought for a moment that her mother had been quite rude enough,—for, colouring a little, she immediately said, "They are very pretty, ma'am—an't they?"

(Sense and Sensibility, by Jane Austen)

I believe I have been very rude; but really Miss Fairfax has done her hair in so odd a way—so very odd a way—that I cannot keep my eyes from her.

(Emma, by Jane Austen)