View synonyms for debris

debris

or dé·bris

[ duh-bree, dey-breeor, especially British, deb-ree ]

Phonetic (Standard)IPA

noun

the remains of anything broken down or destroyed; ruins; rubble:
the debris of buildings after an air raid.
Synonyms: trash, litter, detritus
Geology. an accumulation of loose fragments of rock.

debris

/ ˈdɛbrɪ; ˈdeɪbrɪ /

noun

fragments or remnants of something destroyed or broken; rubble
a collection of loose material derived from rocks, or an accumulation of animal or vegetable matter

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Word History and Origins

Origin of debris¹

First recorded in 1700–10; from French débris, Middle French debris, derivative of debriser “to break up (into pieces),” Old French debrisier, from de- de- + brisier “to break” ( bruise )

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Word History and Origins

Origin of debris¹

C18: from French, from obsolete debrisier to break into pieces, from bruisier to shatter, of Celtic origin

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