Make Your Point > Archived Issues > DETRITUS

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explore the archives: Detritus is very closely related to detri____, meaning anything harmful or damaging. In both of these words, the "tri" part comes from the Latin terere--can you recall what that root means? (If you'd like to check, the answer is at the top of the page for detri____.) make your point with... "DETRITUS" Strictly speaking, detritus is the loose stuff that falls off when things (like rocks) rub together. More loosely, detritus is any trash, debris, or leftovers that remind you of loose stuff that fell off. Pronunciation: dih TRY tuss Part of speech: Uncountable noun. (Like "milk," "rice," and "education," uncountable nouns are words for stuff that can’t be broken into exact units. You talk about "some milk," "the rice," and "a lot of education," but you don’t say "a milk," "three rices," or "many educations." Likewise, talk about "the detritus," "this detritus," "a pile of detritus," "such detritus," "no detritus," and so on, but not "one detritus," or "detrituses.") Other forms: None in common use. "Detrition" is the noun for the act of things rubbing way or wearing down, and "detrital" is the adjective, but they're usually used literally (to talk about things like bones and pebbles). How to use it: When you call something detritus, you're suggesting that it's like a messy, random, maybe even useless heap of physical material that just happened to end up somewhere. You can be literal and talk about, for example, the detritus covering your desk from all your vigorous erasing, or the detritus left behind by a tornado. Often we'll talk about the detritus of something: the detritus of thought, the detritus of dead languages, the detritus of forgotten dreams. Add an adjective, if you like: historical detritus, literary detritus, digital detritus, etc. You can also have a trail, a pile, a heap, or an accumulation of detritus: "Her thoughts scattered, and she tried to follow the trail of their detritus." examples: The detritus on her tiny desk is endearing: scraps of crayon wrappers, dried-out specks of Play-Doh. My computer's desktop remains a mess of folders and files, the detritus of a dozen postponed projects. study it now: Look away from the screen to explain the definition in your own words. You’ll know you understand what "detritus" means when you can explain it without saying "bits and pieces" or "debris." try it out: Fill in the blank: "(A particular thing or situation) is/was messy. I'm still sweeping away the detritus." Example: "A live Christmas tree is insanely messy. I'm still sweeping away the detritus." before you review: Spend at least 20 seconds occupying your mind with the game below. Then try the review questions. Don’t go straight to the review now—let your working memory empty out first. Our game this month is "What's the Difference?" I’ll give you two terms. Without using Google or a dictionary, explain how they’re different. Go beyond saying, "well, I know the difference, but I can’t explain it," or "show me an example and I'll tell you which it is." In your explanations, try to focus on features, not comparisons. For example, what's the difference between climate and weather? A good explanation focuses on features: "climate is what’s going on in the atmosphere over long periods of time, and weather is what’s going on in the atmosphere at a particular place and time." A weaker explanation focuses on comparisons: "climate is more concerning than weather." The game will get harder as the month goes on: we’ll start with objects—natural first, then man-made—then switch to concepts. Let’s do this! From yesterday: What's the difference between timber and lumber? Answer: Timber is rough wood that hasn’t yet been shaped. Lumber has been shaped and has usually been cut into standard lengths. Try this today: What's the difference between a tortoise and a turtle? review today's word: 1. One opposite of DETRITUS is A. THE GROUND B. THE CREAM C. THE OFFAL 2. When writing is slow and difficult, the wrong words seem to _____ into a pile of detritus. A. glide B. marshal C. slough off Answers are below. a final word: To be a sponsor and include your ad in an issue, please contact Liesl at Liesl@HiloTutor.com Disclaimer: Word meanings presented here are expressed in plain language and are limited to common, useful applications only. Readers interested in authoritative and multiple definitions of words are encouraged to check a dictionary. Likewise, word meanings, usage, and pronunciations are limited to American English; these elements may vary across world Englishes. Answers to review questions: 1. B 2. C