detritus
UK: dɪˈtraɪtəs | US: dɪˈtraɪtəs
n. Loose fragments or particles of rock, organic matter, or other material produced by erosion or disintegration.
n. Waste or debris of any kind.
detritus = de<away> + tritus<rubbed>
- de (Latin prefix meaning "away" or "down")
- tritus (Latin root meaning "rubbed," from terere "to rub, wear away")
Etymology Origin:
Derived from Latin detritus ("a wearing away"), the word originally described geological or physical erosion. Over time, it expanded metaphorically to include any fragmented waste material, reflecting the idea of gradual breakdown. The root terere also appears in words like "attrition" and "tribulation," emphasizing wear or grinding.
The riverbank was littered with detritus from the recent flood.
Over time, the mountain's detritus formed fertile soil in the valley.
Archaeologists sifted through the detritus of the ancient settlement.
The storm left behind a trail of detritus on the beach.
Urban detritus, like plastic bags and bottles, often pollutes waterways.