Definition of debris

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< debriefing

Debs, Eugene Victor >

de·bris also dé·bris    (d-br, d-, dbr) KEY 

NOUN:

1. 1. The scattered remains of something broken or destroyed; rubble or wreckage.
   2. Carelessly discarded refuse; litter.
2. Geology An accumulation of relatively large rock fragments: glacial debris.
3. Biology The fragmented remains of dead or damaged cells or tissue.

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ETYMOLOGY:
French débris, from Old French debrisier, to break to pieces : de-, intensive pref. ; see de- + brisier, to break (from Vulgar Latin *brsre, to press grapes, probably of Celtic origin)