dregs
Dregs (noun) means the gritty sediment that settles at the bottom of a drink, especially unfiltered wine or coffee. Example: “She tipped out the last of her coffee, dregs and all.”
How to use dregs
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishThe leftover bits at the bottom of a drink, or (as an insult) the worst people in a group.
Always used as a plural — there is no singular "dreg" in modern use.
Word forms
dreg singular
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
She tipped out the last of her coffee, _____ and all.
Etymology
From an old Scandinavian-derived word meaning sediment, related to the sludge left in a barrel of drink.
Synonyms
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Rhymes for dregs
See all rhymes for dregs →Frequently asked questions
What does “dregs” mean?
The word “dregs” means the gritty sediment that settles at the bottom of a drink, especially unfiltered wine or coffee. In plain terms, the leftover bits at the bottom of a drink, or (as an insult) the worst people in a group.
How do you pronounce “dregs”?
“Dregs” is pronounced drehgz (/dɹɛɡz/ in IPA).
How do you use “dregs” in a sentence?
Here is “dregs” used in a sentence: “She tipped out the last of her coffee, dregs and all.”
What is another word for “dregs”?
Words with a similar meaning to “dregs” include debris, deposit, draff, dross, exuviate and feculence.
What part of speech is “dregs”?
“Dregs” is a noun.
How many meanings does “dregs” have?
“Dregs” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: the gritty sediment that settles at the bottom of a drink, especially unfiltered wine or coffee.