Detritus \De*tri"tus\, n. [F. d['e]tritus, fr. L. detritus, p. p. of deterere. See {Detriment}.] 1. (Geol.) A mass of substances worn off from solid bodies by attrition, and reduced to small portions; as, diluvial detritus. Note: For large portions, the word d['e]bris is used. 2. Hence: Any fragments separated from the body to which they belonged; any product of disintegration. The mass of detritus of which modern languages are composed. --Farrar. web1913

detritus n 1: the remains of something that has been destroyed or broken up [syn: {debris}, {dust}, {junk}, {rubble}] 2: loose material (stone fragments and silt etc) that is worn away from rocks wn