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.
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,
detrude,
detruncate,
detrusion,
detrusor
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, adjectiveWord Origin for detritus
C18: from French
détritus, from Latin
dētrītus a rubbing away; see
detriment
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.
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.