detritus

[ dih-trahy-tuhs ]

noun

1. rock in small particles or other material worn or broken away from a mass, as by the action of water or glacial ice.
2. any disintegrated material; debris.

detritus

/ dɪˈtraɪtəs /

noun

1. a loose mass of stones, silt, etc, worn away from rocks
2. an accumulation of disintegrated material or debris
3. the organic debris formed from the decay of organisms

detritus

/ dĭ-trī′təs /

1. Loose fragments, such as sand or gravel, that have been worn away from rock.
2. Matter produced by the decay or disintegration of an organic substance.

Derived Forms

• deˈtrital, adjective

Other Words From

• de·trital adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of detritus¹

1785–95; < French détritus < Latin: a rubbing away, equivalent to dētrī-, variant stem of dēterere to wear down, rub off ( de- de- + terere to rub) + -tus suffix of v. action

Word History and Origins

Origin of detritus¹

C18: from French détritus, from Latin dētrītus a rubbing away; see detriment

Example Sentences

Behind those dogs sat grills and bikes and busted washing machines, the regular detritus of life, along with car-sized mounds of one-gallon plastic water bottles.

From ProPublica

Martin recommends gathering fallen leaves and other detritus that drop from other plants in your yard, to keep them from smothering your moss.

From Popular-Science

That detritus can become trapped within the diamonds, becoming features called inclusions.

From Popular-Science

He sits in a corner, surrounded by common cards and detritus.

From Washington Post

Some immunologists hypothesize that the vaccines might be able to eliminate any remaining virus or viral detritus.

From MIT Technology Review

Perhaps Pappy fans are so insatiable that they even want the detritus of their favorite tot.

From The Daily Beast

Among the garbage was the typical detritus of public gatherings: water bottles, soda cans, candy wrappers.

From The Daily Beast

Crown emerges from the bedroom with a pair of flat black slacks, the cloudy detritus of afterbirth splayed across the seat.

From The Daily Beast

Indeed, they are viewed both as carpet-bagging intruders and low-caste detritus.

From The Daily Beast

Her fantastical accumulations of detritus and throwaway goods can seem to pack more whimsy than wallop.

From The Daily Beast

Near the coast line the effect of the waves is continually to shove the detritus up the slopes of the continental shelf.

From Project Gutenberg

The agents which assist gravitation in bearing this detritus downward are many, but they all work together for the same end.

From Project Gutenberg

If by chance the detritus accumulates rapidly, the slope is steepened and the work of the torrent made more efficient.

From Project Gutenberg

Further study will reveal the fact that the difference is due to the lack of oxidation in the case of the glacial detritus.

From Project Gutenberg

Often they were found in backwaters and many times schools were taken over bottoms where mud and detritus had been deposited.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• rubble