crude

crude — adjective

1. made or done using only simple, basic methods, with little attention to quality

1.形容詞B1
釋義

made or done using only simple, basic methods, with little attention to quality or fine detail — like a first attempt rather than a polished product.

例句

The villagers built a crude shelter from branches and leaves before the storm.

collocation: crude shelter (basic, improvised structure)

Gita drew a crude map on a paper napkin so they would not get lost.

同義詞
  • rough

    focuses on uneven texture or lack of precision rather than lack of skill

  • primitive

    suggests an early or undeveloped stage of technology, not just poor execution

  • basic

    neutral — simply structured without extra features, no negative judgment

反義詞
  • refined

    carefully made with attention to detail and skill

  • sophisticated

    complex and advanced in design or execution

文法句型

crude + noun

verb + crude

用法筆記

Describes the quality or skill level of the result — a crude drawing, carving, or plan. Does not describe the materials themselves (that is sense 3). Use the opposite 'refined' or 'polished' to contrast.

常見錯誤

❌The house had a crude design, so it was very expensive.
✅The house had a crude design because the builder had no training.
💡'Crude' implies poor quality or lack of skill, not luxury or cost.
❌She wore a crude dress to the party.
✅She wore a simple dress to the party.
💡'Crude' is not used for clothing style; use 'simple' or 'plain' instead.

2. rude and offensive in a way that shows a lack of good manners or respect for wha

2.形容詞B2
釋義

rude and offensive in a way that shows a lack of good manners or respect for what society considers decent, often with a sexual reference.

例句

The comedian's crude jokes made several people in the audience walk out.

collocation: crude jokes (offensive humour)

Amelia told her brother that his crude comments at dinner were embarrassing.

同義詞
  • vulgar

    more common than 'crude' for sexual offensiveness; wider register

  • obscene

    stronger — specifically about sexual matters and often illegal

  • coarse

    focuses on rough, unrefined manners rather than indecency

反義詞
  • polite

    showing good manners and respect for others

  • refined

    cultured and showing good taste

文法句型

crude + noun

用法筆記

Stronger than 'rude' — 'crude' in this sense implies tastelessness or indecency, not just a lack of politeness. Frequently used for jokes, gestures, and sexual references.

常見錯誤

❌His crude story was very entertaining, and everyone asked for more.
✅His crude story made several guests uncomfortable.
💡'Crude' in this sense has a negative connotation; it is not playful or charming.
❌She was crude to the waiter for no reason.
✅She made crude remarks to the waiter for no reason.
💡'Crude' describes the language or behaviour, not the person directly in most contexts.

3. existing in its natural form, not yet changed, cleaned, or prepared for use by p

3.形容詞B2
釋義

existing in its natural form, not yet changed, cleaned, or prepared for use by people through processing or refinement.

例句

The price of crude oil dropped sharply after the new wells began production.

collocation: crude oil (the most common use of this sense)

Ada bought crude sugar from the local market because she preferred its rich flavour.

同義詞
  • raw

    very similar, but 'raw' is more common for food and materials; 'crude' is more technical

  • unrefined

    specifically means not purified; common for sugar, oil, and metals

  • natural

    broader — describes anything found in nature, not necessarily needing processing

反義詞
  • processed

    changed or treated for use

  • refined

    purified or improved through treatment

文法句型

crude + noun

用法筆記

Almost always used before a noun (attributive position). The most common collocation by far is 'crude oil'. Opposite of 'refined' or 'processed'.

常見錯誤

❌I bought some crude vegetables from the farmer's market.
✅I bought some fresh vegetables from the farmer's market.
💡'Crude' is not used for food to be eaten; use 'raw' or 'fresh' instead.
❌The water from the tap is crude.
✅The water from the tap is untreated.
💡'Crude' is used for materials (oil, ore, sugar, rubber), not for utilities like water.

crude — noun