residual

[ri-zij-oo-uhl]

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR residual ON THESAURUS.COM

adjective

pertaining to or constituting a residue or remainder; remaining; leftover.

Mathematics.

formed by the subtraction of one quantity from another: a residual quantity.
(of a set) having complement of first category.

of or relating to the payment of residuals.

Medicine/Medical. remaining in an organ or part following normal discharge or expulsion: residual air.

Geology. remaining after the soluble elements have been dissolved: residual soil.

noun

a residual quantity; remainder.

Often residuals. something that remains to discomfort or disable a person following an illness, injury, operation, or the like; disability: His residuals are a weak heart and light-headedness.

Mathematics.

the deviation of one of a set of observations or numbers from the mean of the set.
the deviation between an empirical and a theoretical result.

Navigation. a slight deviation of an adjusted compass on a certain heading.

Usually residuals. additional pay given to a performer for reruns, repeated use of a film, radio or TV commercial, or the like, in which the performer appears.

Origin of residual

1550–60; < Latin residu(um) what is left over (noun use of neuter of residuus left over, equivalent to resid(ēre) to be left over, literally, remain seated (see reside) + -uus deverbal adj. suffix) + -al¹

Related formsnon·re·sid·u·al, adjective, nounun·re·sid·u·al, adjective

Can be confusedresidual residue

Synonyms for residual

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR residual ON THESAURUS.COM

1. continuing, lasting, enduring, lingering.

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Related Words for residual

continuing, enduring, lingering, net, balance, surplus, extra, remaining, unused, unconsumed

Examples from the Web for residual

Contemporary Examples of residual

There is a lot of residual concern that Lizard Squad was able to get even this far.
The Attack on the Hidden Internet
Marc Rogers
December 29, 2014
Was it wise for the US to leave Iraq without even a residual force in place?
Want President Hillary? Then Primary Her
Jeff Greenfield
November 24, 2014
I thought I could feel something, but it was hard to tell if it was residual tingling from the massage or magic on the path.
The Crazy Medieval Island of Sark
Liza Foreman
October 4, 2014
Advancements in armor and medical care have saved their lives but left them struggling with these residual injuries.
How a Thumb-Sized Gauge Is Revolutionizing Traumatic Brain Injuries
Brian Castner
March 23, 2014
But here was a mother who “knew,” but had residual misgivings, and problems and frailties of her own.
How ‘Looking’ Suddenly Got Its Act Together
Tim Teeman
March 10, 2014

Historical Examples of residual

I'm currently checking stuff that looks like residual organic, and am not too happy about it.
Competition
James Causey
Similarly the residual cellulose shows a deficiency of 5-9 p.ct.
Researches on Cellulose
C. F. Cross
The residual gases in a vacuum tube are dense by comparison.
The Outline of Science, Vol. 1 (of 4)
J. Arthur Thomson
It is quite exquisite, the hunt after and the unearthing of the residual cause.
Spare Hours
John Brown
Residual mantles of impure clay and sand are commonly formed.
The Economic Aspect of Geology
C. K. Leith

British Dictionary definitions for residual

residual

adjective

of, relating to, or designating a residue or remainder; remaining; left over

(of deposits, soils, etc) formed by the weathering of pre-existing rocks and the removal of disintegrated material

of or relating to the payment of residuals

noun

something left over as a residue; remainder

statistics

the difference between the mean of a set of observations and one particular observation
the difference between the numerical value of one particular observation and the theoretical result

(often plural) payment made to an actor, actress, musician, etc, for subsequent use of film in which the person appears

Derived Formsresidually, adverb

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for residual

adj.

1560s, from residue + -al (1), or from French résiduel, from Latin residuum.

1550s, in mathematics, from residual (adj.) or from residue + -al (2). Residuals "royalties" attested by 1960.

residual in Medicine

residual

[rĭ-zĭj′ōō-əl]

adj.

Of, relating to, or characteristic of a residue.

Remaining as a residue.