debris

American  

[duh-bree, dey-bree, deb-ree] / dəˈbri, ˈdeɪ bri, ˈdɛb ri /

Or débris

noun

1. the remains of anything broken down or destroyed; ruins; rubble.

   the debris of buildings after an air raid.

   Synonyms:

   trash, litter, detritus

2. Geology. an accumulation of loose fragments of rock.

---

debris British  

/ ˈdɛbrɪ, ˈdeɪbrɪ /

noun

1. fragments or remnants of something destroyed or broken; rubble

2. a collection of loose material derived from rocks, or an accumulation of animal or vegetable matter

---

Etymology

Origin of debris

First recorded in 1700–10; from French débris, Middle French debris, derivative of debriser “to break up (into pieces),” Old French debrisier, from de- de- + brisier “to break” ( bruise )

Example Sentences

For example, on April 30, federally hired workers were clearing fire debris from a burned-down home in the Palisades burn scar.

From Los Angeles Times

What’s more, he estimated that about 30 homes were “red tagged,” or currently deemed unsafe to inhabit, after debris flows choked homes with pounds and pounds of sludge.

From Los Angeles Times

The high wind alerts come after the region was drenched for days, causing debris flows that washed through homes in Wrightwood.

From Los Angeles Times

Workers quickly cleared debris from the tracks, put up heated tents for passengers, restored the electricity grid and tasked a manual dispatcher with regulating traffic.

From The Wall Street Journal

“The southern flank line is going to be my repair priority,” he wrote, later adding: “Also going to ask that they get all hose debris out. Any other big points folks can think of?”

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• detritus
• junk
• remains
• rubbish
• rubble
• trash
• wreck
• wreckage