detail

[n. dih-teyl, dee-teyl; v. dih-teyl or for 13, dee-teyl] /n. dɪˈteɪl, ˈdi teɪl; v. dɪˈteɪl or for 13, ˈdi teɪl/
noun
1.
an individual or minute part; an item or particular.
2.
particulars collectively; minutiae.
3.
attention to or treatment of a subject in individual or minute parts:
to postpone detail and concentrate on a subject as a whole.
4.
intricate, finely wrought decoration.
5.
Engineering, detail drawing.
6.
any small section of a larger structure or whole, considered as a unit.
7.
Military.
  1. an appointment or assignment, as of a small group or an officer, for a special task.
  2. the party or person so selected:
    the kitchen detail.
  3. a particular assignment of duty.
8.
the property of an image or of a method of image production to make small, closely spaced image elements individually distinguishable.
verb (used with object)
9.
to relate or report with complete particulars; tell fully and distinctly.
10.
to mention one by one; specify; list:
He detailed the events leading up to the robbery.
11.
Military. to appoint or assign for some particular duty:
We were detailed to patrol the border.
12.
to provide with intricate, finely wrought decoration:
lingerie detailed with lace and embroidery.
13.
to thoroughly clean (a vehicle or part of a vehicle) and do minor repairs to improve its appearance:
We detail the wheels and chrome to remove the rust.
Idioms
14.
in detail, item by item; with particulars:
The résumé stated his qualifications in detail.
Origin
1595-1605; < French détail, Old French, noun derivative of detailler ‘to cut in pieces’, equivalent to de- dis-1 + tailler ‘to cut’ < Vulgar Latin *taliāre; see tailor
Related forms
predetail, verb (used with object)
Synonyms
10. itemize, enumerate, catalog.
Examples from the web for detail
  • If you have some specific examples of where you think it would be appropriate, however, you may want to share that detail.
  • Tell students you are going to look at some specific national parks in detail.
  • As far as specific neural imaging, you would have to look through journal articles of neuro-imaging to get any real detail.
  • The explanatory element is crystal clear without skimping on detail.
  • But he is a bit mystified by the candidate's lack of attention to detail.
  • The grand jury indictment is graphic and troubling in its scope and detail.
  • But his own officials seem reluctant offer much convincing detail on local government compliance.
  • The technique heightens the detail produced by the scanner, which generally renders sharper images than his camera does.
  • Clean design, well-defined spaces, and meticulous attention to detail make even a small corner lot seem spacious and private.
  • We need a detail plan or a platform that will underline a step by step process for the next five years.
British Dictionary definitions for detail

detail

/ˈdiːteɪl/
noun
1.
an item or smaller part that is considered separately; particular
2.
an item or circumstance that is insignificant or unimportant: passengers' comfort was regarded as a detail
3.
treatment of or attention to items or particulars: this essay includes too much detail
4.
items collectively; particulars
5.
a small or accessory section or element in a painting, building, statue, etc, esp when considered in isolation
6.
(military)
  1. the act of assigning personnel for a specific duty, esp a fatigue
  2. the personnel selected
  3. the duty or assignment
7.
go into detail, to include all or most particulars
8.
in detail, including all or most particulars or items thoroughly
verb (transitive)
9.
to list or relate fully
10.
(military) to select (personnel) for a specific duty
11.
to decorate or elaborate (carving, etc) with fine delicate drawing or designs
Word Origin
C17: from French détail, from Old French detailler to cut in pieces, from de-dis-1 + tailler to cut; see tailor
Word Origin and History for detail
n.

c.1600, from French détail, from Old French detail "small piece or quantity," literally "a cutting in pieces," from detaillier "cut in pieces," from de- "entirely" (see de-) + taillier "to cut in pieces" (see tailor).

Modern sense is from French en détail "piece by piece, item by item" (as opposed to en gros), a commercial term used where we would today use retail. Military sense is 1708, from notion of "distribution in detail of the daily orders first given in general," including assignment of specific duties.

v.

1630s, from French détailler "cut up in pieces; narrate in particulars," from Old French detaillier, from detail (see detail (n.)). Related: Detailed; detailing.

Idioms and Phrases with detail

detail

see: in detail