sludge
Plural
sludges
1
the semi-solid residue produced during sewage or wastewater treatment
- The treatment plant removes sludge from the water before discharge.
- Engineers studied the composition of the sludge to improve filtration.
- Sludge is often treated further before disposal or use as fertilizer.
- The river was polluted with industrial sludge.
- The facility processes tons of sludge daily.
2
any heavy, soft, wet, and often sticky material
- Mudslides left a layer of sludge over the road.
- The machine's filter was clogged with sludge.
- Workers cleared the sludge from the factory floor.
- Oil spills create environmental sludge that is hard to clean.
- The paint had curdled into a sludge in the can.