ru ‧ di ‧ ments /ˈruːdəmənts, ˈruːdɪmənts/ BrE AmE noun [plural]
[ Date: 1500-1600 ; Language: Latin ; Origin: rudimentum 'beginning' , from rudis ; ⇨ ↑ rude ]
formal the most basic parts of a subject, which you learn first SYN basics
rudiments of
the rudiments of windsurfing