n.
Pronunciation: d ə - ' br ē , d ā - ' , ' d ā - ˌ , Brit usu ' de-( ˌ )br ē
Function: noun
Inflected Form: plural de · bris \ - ' br ē z, - ˌ br ē z \
Etymology: French débris, from Middle French, from debriser to break to pieces, from Old French debrisier, from de- + brisier to break, of Celtic origin; akin to Old Irish brisid he breaks; perhaps akin to Latin fricare to rub ― more at FRICTION
Date: 1708
1 : the remains of something broken down or destroyed
2 : an accumulation of fragments of rock
3 : something discarded : RUBBISH