residual

[ ri-zij-oo-uhl ]

/ rɪˈzɪdʒ u əl /

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.

Nearby words

residential care, residential school, residentially, residentiary, residents association, residual, residual abscess, residual air, residual capacity, residual current device, residual magnetism

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

SYNONYMS FOR residual

1 continuing, lasting, enduring, lingering.

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR residual ON THESAURUS.COM

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

Can be confusedresidual residue

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

Examples from the Web for 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|DAILY BEAST
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|DAILY BEAST
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|DAILY BEAST
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|DAILY BEAST

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|DAILY BEAST
The magnetism remaining in the iron after the current stops is called the residual magnetism.
Physics|Willis Eugene Tower
The powers of the Imperial government, it is important to observe, are specifically enumerated; those of the states are residual.
The Governments of Europe|Frederic Austin Ogg
These residual forces tend to make the whole earth turn round the centre C in a clockwise direction.
Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 2, Slice 7|Various
Residual mantles of impure clay and sand are commonly formed.
The Economic Aspect of Geology|C. K. Leith
The soil that is found resting on the rocks from which it was formed is known as residual soil.
Conservation Reader|Harold W. Fairbanks

British Dictionary definitions for residual

residual

/ (rɪˈzɪdjʊəl) /

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 (1 of 2)

residual

adj.

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

Word Origin and History for residual (1 of 2)

residual

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

Medicine definitions for residual

residual

[ rĭ-zĭj′ōō-əl ]

adj.

Of, relating to, or characteristic of a residue.

Remaining as a residue.

residual

adjective

noun

RELATED WORDS

Nearby words

Origin of residual

Examples from the Web for residual

British Dictionary definitions for residual

residual

adjective

noun

Word Origin and History for residual (1 of 2)

residual

Word Origin and History for residual (1 of 2)

residual

Medicine definitions for residual

residual

adj.