Definition

1. Noun:
   • Something left after other parts have been taken away: The portion that remains after a process of removal, separation, or completion.
   • Matter that remains after something has been removed: A small amount of a substance that remains after a process, such as evaporation, cleaning, or a chemical reaction.

Usage Examples

• Noun:
  • After washing the dishes, a sticky residue was left on the glass.
  • The residue of the estate was divided among the charities.
  • In chemistry, the residue in the beaker was analyzed.

Advanced Usage

• Legal/Financial Context: The remainder of an estate after debts, taxes, and specific bequests have been paid.

  • The will stated that the residue of his assets should go to his alma mater.

• Scientific Context: The solid material remaining after evaporation, filtration, or combustion.

  • The filter paper contained the insoluble residue from the mixture.

• Mathematical Context: In complex analysis, a complex number associated with a singularity of a function.

  • Calculating the residue is a key step in evaluating contour integrals.

Variants and Related Words

• Residual (adj): Relating to or constituting a residue; remaining.

  • The residual effects of the medication lasted for hours.

• Residuary (adj): Pertaining to the residue of an estate.

  • He was named the residuary beneficiary of the will.

Synonyms

• Remainder: The part that is left over.
• Remnant: A small remaining quantity.
• Balance: The remainder or what is left after deductions.
• Dregs: The last remaining part, often undesirable.

Related Phrases

• Residue class (n): In mathematics, a set of integers that all have the same remainder when divided by a given number.
• Residue wax (n): A type of paraffin wax left as a residue from petroleum distillation.

Idioms

• Leave a residue: To have a lasting, often negative, effect or impression.
  • The bitter argument left a residue of distrust between them.

Noun

1. something left after other parts have been taken away
   • there was no remainder
   • he threw away the rest
   • he took what he wanted and I got the balance
2. matter that remains after something has been removed