vestige

3 definitions • 5 examples

a small part or amount of something larger, stronger, or more important that still exists from something that existed in the past:

last vestige of These old buildings are the last vestiges of a colonial past.

vestige of There is now no vestige of hope that the missing children will be found alive.

a body part that has stopped being used and has almost disappeared:

vestige of They are vestiges of the Wolffian duct, one of the embryonic structures that precedes the development of the adult generative organs.

They are probably vestiges of the episternal bone of the lizards.

a small part left from something larger and more important, esp. one that is no longer used:

Vestiges of ancient settlements can be seen in the caves.