Definition

1. Noun:
   • The sediment that settles at the bottom of a liquid: The solid particles, often unwanted, that sink to the bottom of a drink or other liquid.
   • The most worthless or undesirable part of something: Used figuratively to describe the least valuable, least desirable, or most contemptible elements of a group or society.

Usage Examples

• Literal meaning (sediment):

  • He poured the wine carefully, trying not to disturb the dregs at the bottom of the bottle.
  • After finishing the coffee, only the bitter dregs remained in the cup.

• Figurative meaning (worst part):

  • The dictator's secret police were recruited from the dregs of society.
  • After the best students were chosen for the team, they were left with the dregs.

Advanced Usage

• "The dregs of humanity": A strong, often offensive phrase describing people considered the absolute lowest or most immoral in society.

  • The villain in the story surrounded himself with the dregs of humanity.

• "To drink/drain to the dregs": To consume something completely, even the unpleasant last part; often used metaphorically to mean to experience something fully, including its negative aspects.

  • He was determined to drain the cup of life to its dregs.

Variants and Related Words

• Dreg (noun, less common singular form): A single particle or a small amount of sediment.
  • Not a dreg of coffee was left.
• Dreggy (adjective): Resembling or containing dregs.
  • The dreggy liquid was unfit to drink.

Synonyms

• Sediment: Matter that settles to the bottom of a liquid.
• Lees: The sediment of wine, beer, or other fermented drinks.
• Grounds: The sediment of coffee.
• Remnants: The small remaining quantity of something (figurative sense).
• Refuse: Matter thrown away as worthless (figurative sense).

Related Phrases

• The bottom of the barrel: An idiom with a very similar figurative meaning to "dregs," implying the least desirable options remain.
  • Hiring him shows they're really scraping the bottom of the barrel.

Notes on Usage

• The word "dregs" is almost always used in its plural form.
• Its figurative use is common and carries a strong negative connotation, implying worthlessness or disgrace. Use with caution when describing people.

Noun

1. sediment that has settled at the bottom of a liquid