adj. 1 (of a person, remark, etc.) impolite or offensive. 2 roughly made or done; lacking subtlety or accuracy (a rude plough). 3 primitive or uneducated (rude chaos; rude simplicity). 4 abrupt, sudden, startling, violent (a rude awakening; a rude reminder). 5 colloq. indecent, lewd (a rude joke). 6 vigorous or hearty (rude health). be rude to speak impolitely to; insult. rudely adv. rudeness n. rudery n. rudish adj.
[ ME f. OF f. L rudis unwrought ]