Word
detritus
Phoneticsde·tri·tus, stress on the first syllable
US/ˈdɛtɹətəs/
UK/dɪtɹˈaɪtəs/
Definitions
01general debris
C1 · Advanced Uncountable noun Formal · Literary
n. the small pieces of rubbish or waste that are left behind after an event or when something breaks.
n. any debris or fragments of disintegrated material. Often used in a literary or formal register to describe the remains of human activity.
“The streets were covered in the detritus of the festival, including plastic cups and torn posters.”
“After the floodwaters finally receded, the residents were left to clear the thick layer of detritus that had settled in their gardens.”
Usage
Usually uncountable when referring to a mass of waste.
02organic waste
C2 · Proficiency Uncountable noun Biology Technical · Academic
n. dead leaves, plants, and animal waste that are breaking down in nature.
n. organic waste material consisting of decomposing plants or animals. This material provides essential nutrients for many small organisms in an ecosystem.
“Crabs and small fish often feed on the detritus found at the bottom of the ocean.”
“The forest floor is a complex layer of detritus where fungi and bacteria work to recycle nutrients back into the soil.”
Usage
Uncountable in a biological context.
Synonyms
03rock fragments
C2 · Proficiency Uncountable noun Science Technical
n. small pieces of rock that have been broken off by ice, water, or wind.
n. fragments of rock produced by erosion or weathering. It can also refer to rock formed from the accumulation of such debris.
“The glacier left behind a trail of rocky detritus as it moved down the mountain.”
“Geologists analysed the detritus at the base of the cliff to determine the rate of coastal erosion over the last century.”
Real-World Examples
“Tomorrow, David will rake this chewed-up detritus into windrows and then come back for another round to bale them up.” “Their diets likely included humus, plant detritus and fungal spores.” Etymology
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.
Domains
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.C1 AdvancedIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.7.0–8.0TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 5.0–5.595–113TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.945–990
- Frequency
- Occasional
- Level
- C1 · Advanced
- Updated
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