settlings: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C1Formal, Technical
Quick answer
What does “settlings” mean?
The solid particles that gradually sink to the bottom of a liquid.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
The solid particles that gradually sink to the bottom of a liquid.
1. The act or process of becoming established in a place or situation. 2. The act of resolving or concluding a matter (less common). 3. Material, often waste, that has settled out of suspension.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Usage is very similar, though 'dregs' might be slightly more common in BrE for informal contexts. 'Sediment' is preferred in scientific/technical writing in both varieties.
Connotations
Neutral-to-negative; implies waste, residue, or unwanted by-product. Can suggest impurity.
Frequency
Low frequency in both dialects. Most commonly encountered in technical manuals, old literature, or specific domestic contexts (e.g., wine/coffee making).
Grammar
How to Use “settlings” in a Sentence
The [liquid] left a sediment of [settlings].Pour the [liquid] carefully to avoid disturbing the [settlings].The [container] contained a thick layer of [settlings].Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “settlings” in a Sentence
noun
British English
- After brewing the pot of tea, she discarded the dark settlings.
- The old barrel needed cleaning to remove years of wine settlings.
American English
- He poured the cider slowly, careful not to let the settlings get into his glass.
- The settlings at the bottom of the fuel tank can cause engine problems.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rare. Possibly in manufacturing or brewing industries to describe waste by-products.
Academic
Used in chemistry, environmental science, and engineering to describe deposited solids, though 'sediment' is more precise and common.
Everyday
Uncommon. Might be used by hobbyists (winemakers, coffee enthusiasts) when describing the residue at the bottom of a container.
Technical
Used in process engineering, water treatment, and brewing to refer to the solids separated by gravity.
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “settlings”
- Using 'settlings' as a singular noun (e.g., 'a settling' – usually process; the material is often plural). Confusing it with 'settlement' (a place or agreement).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, it is a low-frequency word primarily used in technical, industrial, or specific hobbyist contexts (e.g., brewing). In everyday language, words like 'sediment', 'dregs', or 'residue' are more common.
'Sediment' is a broader, more scientific term for any particulate matter that settles. 'Settlings' often implies a more specific context of being the waste product of a liquid (like wine, coffee, fuel) and can sound slightly old-fashioned or less technical.
Rarely. The form 'settlings' is almost always treated as a plural noun (like 'dregs'). The singular 'a settling' typically refers to an instance of the process (e.g., 'the settling of the dust'), not the material itself.
In most informal contexts, 'dregs' works well for drinks. For more general or technical contexts, 'sediment' or 'residue' are excellent and more widely understood synonyms.
Settlings is usually formal, technical in register.
Settlings: in British English it is pronounced /ˈsɛt.lɪŋz/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈsɛt.lɪŋz/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “[None directly associated with the noun 'settlings'. The verb 'settle' has many idioms, e.g., 'settle down', 'settle the score']”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine SETTLING into a comfortable chair – you sink down. SETTLINGS are the particles that have SINK down to the bottom.
Conceptual Metaphor
UNCLEANLINESS IS SETTLINGS (The residue is impurity); COMPLETION IS SETTLING (The process of things coming to rest).
Practice
Quiz
In which context is the word 'settlings' MOST appropriately used?