/ dɪˈtraɪtəs; NAmE / noun [ U ]
1.
( technical ) natural waste material that is left after sth has been used or broken up :
organic detritus from fish and plants
2.
( formal ) any kind of rubbish / garbage that is left after an event or when sth has been used
SYN debris :
the detritus of everyday life
••
WORD ORIGIN
late 18th cent. (in the sense detrition ): from French détritus , from Latin detritus , from deterere wear away.