1. A statement of fundamental facts or principles
   "She taught the rudiments of music theory to beginners";
   - basics, elements
    
2. The elementary stages of any subject (usually plural)
   "he mastered only the rudiments of geometry";
   - first principles, alphabet, elements

1. A basic, undeveloped, or vestigial structure, especially a body part that was more fully developed in an earlier stage of evolution
   "Meckel's diverticulum is the rudiment of the embryonic yolk sac"

Type of: basic principle, basics, bedrock, body part, fact, fundamental principle, fundamentals

Encyclopedia: Rudiments