1. An organ or structure that is incompletely developed. 2. The first indication of a structure in the course of ontogeny. SYN: rudimentum. [L. rudimentum, a beginning, fr. rudis, unformed]
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ru·di·ment 'rüd-ə-mənt n an incompletely developed organ or part esp an organ or part just beginning to develop: ANLAGE
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ru·di·ment (rooґdĭ-mənt) 1. a structure that has remained undeveloped, or one with little or no function at present but which was functionally developed earlier either in the individual or in its phylogenetic ancestors. 2. primordium.Medical dictionary. 2011.