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detritus
[ dih-trahy-tuhs ]
/ dɪˈtraɪ təs /
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Definition of detritus
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, adjectiveWords nearby detritus
detriment, detrimental, detrition, detritivore, detritovore, detritus, Detroit, de trop, detrude, detruncate, detrusion
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
How to use detritus in a sentence
British Dictionary definitions for detritus
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, adjectiveWord 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
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Scientific definitions for detritus
detritus
[ dÄ-trī′tÉ™s ]
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
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