Category:Detritus

De*tri"tus, n. Etym: [F. détritus, fr. L. detritus, p. p. of deterere. See Detriment.]

1. (Geol.)

Defn: 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 débris 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.