detritus
- 01 C1 Advanced
the small pieces of rubbish or waste that are left behind after an event or when something breaks.
any debris or fragments of disintegrated material. Often used in a literary or formal register to describe the remains of human activity.
Simple“The streets were covered in the detritus of the festival, including plastic cups and torn posters.”
In context“After the floodwaters finally receded, the residents were left to clear the thick layer of detritus that had settled in their gardens.”
UsageUsually uncountable when referring to a mass of waste.
- 02 C2 Proficiency
dead leaves, plants, and animal waste that are breaking down in nature.
organic waste material consisting of decomposing plants or animals. This material provides essential nutrients for many small organisms in an ecosystem.
Simple“Crabs and small fish often feed on the detritus found at the bottom of the ocean.”
In context“The forest floor is a complex layer of detritus where fungi and bacteria work to recycle nutrients back into the soil.”
UsageUncountable in a biological context.
Synonymsorganic matterhumus - 03 C2 Proficiency
small pieces of rock that have been broken off by ice, water, or wind.
fragments of rock produced by erosion or weathering. It can also refer to rock formed from the accumulation of such debris.
Simple“The glacier left behind a trail of rocky detritus as it moved down the mountain.”
In context“Geologists analysed the detritus at the base of the cliff to determine the rate of coastal erosion over the last century.”
“Their diets likely included humus, plant detritus and fungal spores.”
Learned borrowing from Latin dētrītus (“(that which is) rubbed away”), from dēterō (“rub away”).
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.