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.

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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

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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

Nearly 15 million cubic meters of ice and debris collapse into the lake.

From The Wall Street Journal

The wind wails impossibly louder, throwing debris against the door like a machine gun.

From Literature

The other was a fickle thing, popping out at the most inconvenient times, rolling across the forest floor and picking up debris.

From Literature

Operations to check for any more worshippers are continuing and the debris is being cleared.

From BBC

Larger plastic debris can fragment over time due to sunlight.

From Science Daily

Related Words

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