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.

Words nearby detritus

detriment, detrimental, detrition, detritivore, detritovore, detritus, detroit, detrude, detruncate, detrusion, detrusor

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

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for detrital

It does not go to increase the great body of detrital deposits.
The Birth-Time of the World and Other Scientific Essays|J. (John) Joly
The margin of this new lake, acting upon the detrital matter, would form the second road.
Fragments of science, V. 1-2|John Tyndall
The sides also became less vertical, and there was an accumulation of detrital fragments about their bases.
A Journey in Other Worlds|John Jacob Astor
In such scenes of desolation and destruction, detrital sediments are actively being generated.
The Birth-Time of the World and Other Scientific Essays|J. (John) Joly

The slight elevations of sandy "geest" or detrital spurs were limited in area and in time outgrown.
Influences of Geographic Environment|Ellen Churchill Semple

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

Medicine definitions for detrital

detritus

[ dĭ-trī′təs ]

n. pl. detritus

Loose matter resulting from the wearing away or disintegration of tissue or other material.

Science 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.