de·tri·tus \-rīd.əs, -ītəs\noun (pluraldetritus) Etymology: French détritus, from Latin detritus, past participle of deterere 1.: loose material that results directly from rock disintegration or abrasion especially when composed of rock fragments 2.: a product of disintegration or wearing away : fragment or fragmentary material < the detritus of a conflagration > < ballads formed from the detritus of an old epic poem > < a detritus of broken-down bodily tissue >