residue

noun

res·i·due | \ ˈre-zə-ˌdü

, -ˌdyü\

Definition of residue

: something that remains after a part is taken, separated, or designated or after the completion of a process : remnant, remainder: such as

a : the part of a testator's estate remaining after the satisfaction of all debts, charges, allowances, and previous devises and bequests

b : the remainder after subtracting a multiple of a modulus from an integer or a power of the integer that can appear as the second of the two terms in an appropriate congruence 2 and 7 are residues of 12 modulo 5

c : a constituent structural unit (such as a group or monomer) of a usually complex molecule amino acid residues from hydrolysis of protein

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Examples of residue in a Sentence

The grill was covered in a greasy residue from the hamburgers. The divorce left a residue of pain in the family. There was some kind of sticky residue on the floor. She left the residue of her estate to her daughter.

Recent Examples on the Web

For hemp grown in fields, farmers must avoid even the residue of herbicides or pesticides, which are allowed in growing the plant that is intended for CBD oil. — al, "Alabama’s hemp is passing the low-THC test," 6 Sep. 2019 The link to pesticides also has people worried about food safety, and the risk of pesticide residue on the food consumers purchase. — Claudia Harmata, PEOPLE.com, "500 Million Bees Have Died in Brazil in 3 Months — and It Could Hurt the Food Supply," 22 Aug. 2019 Stretching 245 feet tall, its long, central tower and sloping sides resemble a gigantic stalagmite of petrified lava residue. — Rumela Basu, National Geographic, "Iceland’s tallest church was inspired by volcanoes," 27 June 2019 In October, however, a Nature Ecology & Evolution study of organic residues on artifacts concluded that the Mayo-Chinchipe culture was making the stuff nearly 5,500 years ago, in what’s now Ecuador. — Gemma Tarlach, Discover Magazine, "20 Things You Didn't Know About Chocolate," 20 Feb. 2019 After Demilieu told the family about the meth coating on all the home’s walls and surfaces, 29 tests confirmed elevated levels of methamphetamine residue in every structure, the Salem Statesman Journal reported. — Matthew Martinez, The Seattle Times, "Family didn’t know dream home was contaminated with meth," 6 Aug. 2018 Run the bottles through the dishwasher once (or wash them in extra-hot water) to get rid of manufacturing residue. — Kim Fusaro, Woman's Day, "The Best Baby Registry Ever: Part 6, 6 Things You DON'T Need To Register For!," 17 Apr. 2012 Studies by two universities confirmed that the rainwater contains fire residues. — Mahita Gajanan, Time, "A Record Number of Fires Are Currently Burning Across the Amazon Rainforest," 21 Aug. 2019 Detectives also found orange residue on the wall in the master bedroom, consistent with bear repellent. — Saja Hindi, The Denver Post, "Man who attacked real estate agent in Commerce City threatened her with knife, bear mace, police say," 14 Aug. 2019

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'residue.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

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Last Updated

13 Sep 2019

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Time Traveler for residue

The first known use of residue was in the 14th century

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More Definitions for residue

residue

noun

English Language Learners Definition of residue

: a usually small amount of something that remains after a process has been completed or a thing has been removed

formal : the amount of something valuable (such as an estate) that is left after all debts have been paid

See the full definition for residue in the English Language Learners Dictionary

residue

noun

res·i·due | \ ˈre-zə-ˌdü

, -ˌdyü\

Kids Definition of residue

: whatever remains after a part is taken, set apart, or lost

residue

noun

res·i·due | \ ˈrez-ə-ˌd(y)ü

Medical Definition of residue

: something that remains after a part is taken, separated, or designated specifically : a constituent structural unit (as a group or monomer) of a usually complex molecule amino acid residues in a protein

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residue

noun

res·i·due | \ ˈre-zə-ˌdü, -ˌdyü

Legal Definition of residue

: something that remains after a part is taken, separated, or designated specifically : the part of a testator's estate remaining after the satisfaction of all debts, charges, taxes, and legacies other than residuary legacies