remnant

remnant — noun

1. a small amount or part that remains after most of something has disappeared, bee

1.名詞B2
釋義

a small amount or part that remains after most of something has disappeared, been destroyed, or been used up

例句

After the earthquake, the stone remnants of the old temple still stood in the valley.

plural: remnants of + destroyed building/structure

Naoko found remnants of an ancient stone wall while digging in her garden.

同義詞
  • leftover

    more informal; common for food or small physical items rather than ruins

  • remainder

    more neutral and mathematical; often refers to what is left after subtraction or division

  • residue

    technical or scientific; suggests a thin layer or trace remaining on a surface

  • trace

    emphasises a very small amount, often barely detectable

反義詞
  • bulk

    the largest part of something, contrasted with the small remnant

  • majority

    the greater part, as opposed to what is left behind

文法句型

remnant + of + noun

用法筆記

Often used in the plural (remnants) when referring to scattered leftover parts of something that has been destroyed or has decayed. The singular (a remnant) emphasises a single remaining piece.

常見錯誤

❌I ate the remnants of my dinner.
✅I ate the leftovers from my dinner.
💡'remnants' sounds overly dramatic for everyday food; use 'leftovers' for ordinary uneaten meals.
❌The old building's remnant was still visible.
✅The remnants of the old building were still visible.
💡when referring to scattered traces of a ruined structure, the plural form is more natural.

2. a leftover section of fabric, typically from a larger roll or bolt, that remains

2.名詞B2
釋義

a leftover section of fabric, typically from a larger roll or bolt, that remains after the main quantity has been cut and sold

例句

Adina bought a fabric remnant at the market to sew a small bag.

compound noun: fabric remnant

The tailor used remnants of silk to create colourful patches for her jacket.

同義詞
  • scrap

    a small, often irregular piece of material; less specific to retail leftover context

  • offcut

    a piece cut off during manufacturing; more common in industrial settings

文法句型

fabric/remnant + noun

用法筆記

Common in sewing, tailoring, and fabric-retail contexts. Fabric remnants are often sold at a discount or kept for small projects such as patches, bags, or dolls' clothes.

常見錯誤

❌I need a remnant to clean the windows.
✅I need a rag to clean the windows.
💡a remnant is a leftover piece of fabric intended for sewing, not an old cloth for cleaning.
❌She bought a small fabric remnant in the supermarket.
✅She bought a small fabric remnant at the fabric store.
💡remnants are typically sold in fabric or craft shops, not supermarkets.