residue

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

residue — 名詞

  • 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

殘留物

移除或使用主要部分後殘存的少量物質

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.

Nadia 清理烤箱後，在底部托盤上發現一層黏黏的殘留物。

collocation: sticky residue

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

實驗室檢測了當地河流的水質，發現水中含有附近工廠的化學殘留物。

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

遺產餘額

扣除稅金、債務等後遺留的財產部分

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.

Gabriel 在遺囑中將遺產的剩餘部分留給了一家兒童慈善機構。

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

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

在償還債務和繳納稅款後，遺產的剩餘部分由 Hui 和她的弟弟繼承。

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.