residue
n. C / Un. a small amount of something that stays behind after the main part is gone or used. You often see this as a sticky or dry substance left on a surface after cleaning it.
n. a small amount of something that remains after the main part has gone, been taken, or been used. Used in technical contexts to describe chemical remnants or the remainder of an estate in legal proceedings.
The sticker left a sticky residue on the window.
After the water evaporated from the pan, a thin white residue of salt remained on the bottom.
The laboratory analysis confirmed that a toxic residue had permeated the soil, suggesting that the industrial waste had not been neutralized as previously claimed.
From Middle English residue, from Old French residu, from Latin residuum, neuter of residuus (“remaining”), from resideō (“I remain behind”). Doublet of residuum.