Detritus (Noun)

Meaning ¹

The remains of something that has been destroyed or broken up.

Classification

Nouns denoting substances.

Examples

• The storm left a trail of detritus in its wake, with splintered wood and shattered glass littering the streets.
• The old factory had been abandoned for years, its interior filled with the detritus of forgotten industries.
• The earthquake had reduced the city to detritus, with rubble and debris filling every available space.
• After the fire was extinguished, firefighters carefully picked through the detritus to search for survivors.
• The hurricane had torn through the coastal town, leaving a mess of detritus and debris in its wake.

Synonyms

• Rubble
• Debris
• Dust
• Junk

Hypernyms

• Rubbish
• Trash
• Scrap

Hyponyms

• Slack

Meaning ²

Loose material (stone fragments and silt etc) that is worn away from rocks.

Classification

Nouns denoting substances.

Examples

• The glacier scoured the mountain face, leaving behind a trail of detritus in its wake.
• As the river flowed, it carried with it a constant load of detritus, slowly wearing down the landscape.
• The detritus from the landslide clogged the stream, causing it to overflow its banks.
• Over time, the detritus from the eroding cliffs accumulated on the beach, forming a layer of coarse sand and pebbles.
• The hikers had to navigate through a field of detritus, the remains of a long-forgotten landslide that had left a scar on the mountain.

Hypernyms

• Stuff