residue

/ˈrezɪdjuː/ (bre, ipa) · /ˈrezɪduː/ (ame, ipa) · /ˈre-zə-ˌdü -ˌdyü/ (ame, mw)

residue — noun

  • residuesingular
  • residuesplural

1. the thin layer or trace that stays on a surface or inside a container once most

1.名詞B2
釋義

the thin layer or trace that stays on a surface or inside a container once most of the substance has been removed or consumed

例句

After Nadia cleaned the oven, she found a sticky residue on the bottom tray.

collocation: sticky residue

The lab tested the river and found traces of chemical residue from the factory.

同義詞
  • remnant

    more general — can refer to any leftover part, not necessarily a physical substance; remnant of a tradition, remnant of cloth

  • leftover

    less formal; commonly used for uneaten food or small remaining amounts of supplies

  • sediment

    narrower — specifically solid matter that settles at the bottom of a liquid

文法句型

residue + of + noun phrase

用法筆記

Often refers to a visible or detectable trace left on a surface, especially after cleaning, cooking, or industrial processing. Commonly paired with adjectives such as sticky, greasy, chemical, or pesticide.

常見錯誤

❌There was a residue soup at the bottom of the pot.
✅There was a residue of soup at the bottom of the pot.
💡residue is not used alone as a standalone noun before the source; use 'residue of' to specify what it came from.
❌The residue water was dirty.
✅The water residue was dirty.
💡place residue after the substance, not before it.

2. what someone leaves behind in wealth and belongings once estate taxes, creditors

2.名詞C1
釋義

what someone leaves behind in wealth and belongings once estate taxes, creditors, and specific bequests have been deducted from the total

例句

Gabriel left the residue of his estate to a children's charity in his will.

register: formal/legal; pattern: residue of [one's] estate

After the debts and taxes were paid, the residue went to Hui and her brother.

同義詞
  • remainder

    the closest synonym in legal English; 'residuary estate' or 'residue' are the formal terms in wills

  • rest

    everyday word — too informal for legal documents but acceptable in casual explanation

文法句型

the residue + of + possession/estate

用法筆記

This is a technical legal term used in wills and estate planning. In Taiwan, the equivalent legal concept is 遺產剩餘額. The word is almost always preceded by the definite article 'the' in this sense. Only appears in singular form.

常見錯誤

❌She got the residue of the money.
✅She inherited the residue of the estate.
💡in this sense, residue refers to the whole remaining estate, not just leftover cash.