rhizoverbBeta
DictionaryresidueLeftover material
noun

residue

REZ-ih-doo/ˈrezɪduː/

Material remaining after a process removes other parts.

A thin residue of sauce clings to the scraped saucepan.

An almost-empty saucepan with a thin reddish sauce film and small cooked-on flecks left across its bottom and inner walls; broad scrape tracks expose the clean metal beneath the remaining material.
Etymology
residueLatina remainder

Latin residuum meant whatever was left behind after part was taken away. That general idea of a remainder applies directly to material surviving a process or removal.

In context

Discovery Future4:56
One of these scrapers after discovery was subjected to residue analysis, a chemical process that checks for ancient proteins.
Oldest Human Settlement In America Just Discovered In Oregon Pushes Back The Timeline!

More examples

  • The tape leaves a sticky residue on the glass.
  • After the water evaporates, a white residue remains.
  • Rinse the shirt thoroughly to remove detergent residue.

Forms

residue · residues

residual adjective — Remaining after other parts are removed.

Similar words

remainder
Any portion left over, not necessarily a physical substance.
remnant
Often a surviving piece rather than a film or powder.
sediment
Specifically particles that settle out of a liquid.