debris

Or dé·bris

[duh-bree, dey-bree, deb-ree]

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

/ 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

Word History and Origins

Origin of debris¹

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 )

Word History and Origins

Origin of debris¹

C18: from French, from obsolete debrisier to break into pieces, from bruisier to shatter, of Celtic origin

Related Words

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