residual

[ ri-zij-oo-uhl ]

adjective

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

   Synonyms: enduring, lasting, abiding

2. Mathematics.
   1. formed by the subtraction of one quantity from another:

      a residual quantity.

   2. (of a set) having complement of first category.
3. of or relating to the payment of residuals.
4. Medicine/Medical. remaining in an organ or part following normal discharge or expulsion:

   residual air.

5. Geology. remaining after the soluble elements have been dissolved:

   residual soil.

noun

1. a residual quantity; remainder.
2. 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.

3. Mathematics.
   1. the deviation of one of a set of observations or numbers from the mean of the set.
   2. the deviation between an empirical and a theoretical result.
4. Navigation. a slight deviation of an adjusted compass on a certain heading.
5. 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.

residual

/ rɪˈzɪdjʊəl /

adjective

1. of, relating to, or designating a residue or remainder; remaining; left over
2. (of deposits, soils, etc) formed by the weathering of pre-existing rocks and the removal of disintegrated material
3. of or relating to the payment of residuals

noun

1. something left over as a residue; remainder
2. statistics
   1. the difference between the mean of a set of observations and one particular observation
   2. the difference between the numerical value of one particular observation and the theoretical result
3. often plural payment made to an actor, actress, musician, etc, for subsequent use of film in which the person appears

Derived Forms

• reˈsidually, adverb

Other Words From

• nonre·sidu·al adjective noun
• unre·sidu·al adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of residual¹

First recorded in 1550–60; from Latin residu(um) “what is left over, remainder” (noun use of neuter of adjective residuus “left over,” derivative of resid(ēre) “to remain seated, be left over”) + -uus adjective suffix + -al adjective suffix; reside, -al ¹

Example Sentences

In her witness statement, read to the inquiry by Francesca Whitelaw KC, Dame Sally said she had been concerned "about the disposal by the foreign agents of any residual nerve agent".

From BBC

Asked on Thursday whether he intended to carry out a cleavage-sparing mastectomy on Mrs Baker, Paterson replied: “It’s nonsense to suggest that anyone having immediate reconstruction would require any residual tissue or former cleavage. That tissue is going to be provided by reconstruction or an implant.”

From BBC

The inquest heard another surgeon, Andrew Stockdale, had raised concerns about the amount of residual tissue left behind in mastectomy operations carried out at the Heart of England NHS Foundation Trust, where both worked.

From BBC

He asked why the residual tissue in Ms Turbill had not been noticed before that point and suggested it may have been fat which had grown since the operation in 2005.

From BBC

Harris added, “We have to just acknowledge that the residual impact of fracking is enormous in terms of the impact on the health and safety of communities.”

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• continuing
• enduring
• lingering