detritus

[ dih-trahy-tuh s ]
/ dɪˈtraɪ təs /

noun

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

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Origin of detritus

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

OTHER WORDS FROM detritus

de·tri·tal, adjective

Words nearby detritus

detriment, detrimental, detrition, detritivore, detritovore, detritus, detroit, detrude, detruncate, detrusion, detrusor
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2020

Example sentences from the Web for detrital

British Dictionary definitions for detrital

detritus
/ (dɪˈtraɪtəs) /

noun

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

Derived forms of detritus

detrital, adjective

Word Origin for detritus

C18: from French détritus, from Latin dētrītus a rubbing away; see detriment
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Medical definitions for detrital

detritus
[ dĭ-trī′təs ]

n. pl. detritus

Loose matter resulting from the wearing away or disintegration of tissue or other material.
The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.

Scientific definitions for detrital

detritus
[ dĭ-trī′təs ]

Loose fragments, such as sand or gravel, that have been worn away from rock.
Matter produced by the decay or disintegration of an organic substance.
The American Heritage® Science Dictionary Copyright © 2011. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.