detritus

/dɪˈtɹaɪtəs/

Meanings

noun

(chiefly geological) Pieces of rock broken off by ice, glacier, or erosion.

Examples :

"The hikers carefully climbed over the detritus of broken rock at the base of the cliff. "

noun

Organic waste material from decomposing dead plants or animals.

Examples :

"The forest floor was covered in detritus, providing nutrients for new growth. "

environment biology nature

noun

Debris or fragments of disintegrated material.

Examples :

"After the storm, the beach was covered in detritus: broken branches, seaweed, and plastic bottles. "

environment material geology nature

Related Words

branches noun

/ˈbɹæntʃɪz/ /ˈbɹɑːntʃɪz/

The woody part of a tree arising from the trunk and usually dividing.

"The children climbed the tree and sat on its sturdy branches. "

disintegrated verb

/dɪsˈɪntɪˌɡreɪtɪd/ /dɪsˈɪnɾɪˌɡreɪɾɪd/

To undo the integrity of, break into parts.

"The old cardboard box, soaked with rain, disintegrated in my hands as I tried to pick it up. "

erosion noun

/əˈɹəʊʒən/ /əˈɹoʊʒən/

The result of having been worn away or eroded, as by a glacier on rock or the sea on a cliff face.

"The constant rain caused erosion of the soil on the family's garden plot. "

providing verb

/pɹəˈvaɪdɪŋ/

To make a living; earn money for necessities.

"It is difficult to provide for my family working on minimum wage."

chiefly adjective

/ˈtʃiːf.li/

Of or relating to a chief

"The school's chief concern, chiefly its declining enrollment, was discussed at the meeting. "

fragments noun

/fɹæɡˈmɛnts/

A part broken off; a small, detached portion; an imperfect part, either physically or not

"I heard a small fragment of the conversation."

glacier noun

/ˈɡleɪ.ʃɚ/ /ˈɡleɪs.jə/

A large body of ice which flows under its own mass, usually downhill.

"They warned that the effects of glacier melting on water resources are becoming “increasingly serious” for China."

material noun

/məˈtɪəɹɪəl/ /məˈtɪɹi.əl/

Matter which may be shaped or manipulated, particularly in making something.

"Asphalt, composed of oil and sand, is a widely used material for roads."

decomposing verb

/ˌdiːkəmˈpoʊzɪŋ/ /ˌdiːkəmˈpoʊsɪŋ/

To separate or break down something into its components; to disintegrate or fragment

"The old, discarded textbook was decomposing on the shelf, crumbling into smaller and smaller pieces. "

carefully adverb

/ˈkɛːfli/ /ˈkɛɹfli/

Sorrowfully.

"He listened carefully to his mother's concerns, feeling sorrowful about her disappointment. "

nutrients noun

/ˈnuːtriənts/ /ˈnjuːtriənts/

A source of nourishment, such as food, that can be metabolized by an organism to give energy and build tissue.

"The vegetables provided many essential nutrients for the growing children. "

geological adjective

/ˌdʒiː.əˈlɒdʒ.ɪk.əl/ /ˌdʒi.əˈlɑdʒ.ɪk.əl/

Of, or relating to geology or a geologic time scale.

"The rock layers in the Grand Canyon provide a detailed geological record of the Earth's past. "