residue
C1Formal/Academic/Technical
Definition
Meaning
A small amount of something that remains after the main part has gone or been taken or used.
The remainder or leftover part of a substance, process, or system; in legal contexts, what remains of an estate after debts and legacies have been paid.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Typically refers to something unwanted or considered waste, though in scientific contexts it may be a neutral term for what remains after a process. Implies a secondary, often insignificant, remainder.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Usage is largely identical. 'Residue' is preferred in formal/scientific contexts in both varieties; 'leftovers' is more common in casual speech for food.
Connotations
In both varieties, can carry negative connotations of impurity or waste, especially in environmental contexts.
Frequency
Slightly more frequent in American legal and financial contexts (e.g., 'residue of an estate').
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
residue of [something]residue on [surface]residue from [process/substance]Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “The residue of despair (literary)”
- “A residue of goodwill”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
The financial residue of the deal was distributed among shareholders.
Academic
The residue in the beaker was analyzed for heavy metal content.
Everyday
There's a sticky residue on the table from the spilled juice.
Technical
The filter traps particulate matter, allowing only a liquid residue to pass.
Examples
By Part of Speech
noun
British English
- A greasy residue was left on the cooker hood.
- The will specified how the residue of the estate should be handled.
American English
- The coffee residue stained the mug.
- After paying debts, the residue was quite small.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- Wash the bottle well to remove any residue.
- A dark residue was at the bottom of the pan.
- Chemical residues in food are a major concern for regulators.
- The residue of ancient glaciers can be seen in the landscape.
- The philosophical residue of the movement influenced later thinkers.
- The treaty left a residue of resentment between the two nations.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a RESIDUE as what's left in a CUP after you've drunk most of it – the RE-SIDe-of-it.
Conceptual Metaphor
RESIDUE IS UNWANTED REMAINS (e.g., 'the residue of failed policies').
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Do not confuse with 'резиденция' (residence). The closest Russian equivalent is 'остаток' or 'осадок'.
Common Mistakes
- Using 'residue' for large quantities (e.g., 'The residue of the pizza' – use 'leftovers').
- Confusing 'residue' with 'residual' (adjective).
Practice
Quiz
In which context is 'residue' LEAST appropriate?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Not always. While often implying something unwanted (like dirt or chemicals), it is neutral in scientific/legal contexts, simply meaning 'what remains'.
'Residue' often refers to a small, often processed or altered remainder (e.g., chemical residue). 'Remains' is broader and can refer to what is left of something that has been destroyed or consumed (e.g., remains of a meal, mortal remains).
No, 'residue' is only a noun. The related verb is 'reside', and the adjective is 'residual'.
Primarily uncountable (e.g., 'some residue'). It can be countable when referring to distinct types or instances (e.g., 'different chemical residues').