detail

[ noun dih-teyl, dee-teyl; verb dih-teyl or, for 13, dee-teyl ]

/ noun dɪˈteɪl, ˈdi teɪl; verb dɪˈteɪl or, for 13, ˈdi teɪl /

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See synonyms for: detail / detailed / detailing / details on Thesaurus.com

noun

an individual or minute part; an item or particular.

particulars collectively; minutiae.

attention to or treatment of a subject in individual or minute parts: to postpone detail and concentrate on a subject as a whole.

intricate, finely wrought decoration.

Engineering. detail drawing.

any small section of a larger structure or whole, considered as a unit.

Military.

an appointment or assignment, as of a small group or an officer, for a special task.
the party or person so selected: the kitchen detail.
a particular assignment of duty.

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)

to relate or report with complete particulars; tell fully and distinctly.

to mention one by one; specify; list: He detailed the events leading up to the robbery.

Military. to appoint or assign for some particular duty: We were detailed to patrol the border.

to provide with intricate, finely wrought decoration: lingerie detailed with lace and embroidery.

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.

OTHER WORDS FOR detail

10 itemize, enumerate, catalog.

See synonyms for detail on Thesaurus.com

QUIZ

THINGAMABOB OR THINGUMMY: CAN YOU DISTINGUISH BETWEEN THE US AND UK TERMS IN THIS QUIZ?

Do you know the difference between everyday US and UK terminology? Test yourself with this quiz on words that differ across the Atlantic.

Question 1 of 7

In the UK, COTTON CANDY is more commonly known as…

candystring

candyfloss

candypuff

TAKE THE QUIZ TO FIND OUT

Idioms about detail

in detail, item by item; with particulars: The résumé stated his qualifications in detail.

Origin of detail

First recorded in 1595–1605; from French détail, Old French, noun derivative of detailler “to cut in pieces,” equivalent to de- “away, apart , etc.” (see dis-¹) + tailler “to cut,” from unattested Vulgar Latin taliāre; see tailor¹

OTHER WORDS FROM detail

pre·de·tail, verb (used with object)

Words nearby detail

desultory, DET, detach, detached, detachment, detail, detail drawing, detailed, detailer, detailing, detain

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use detail in a sentence

Novavax, similarly, hasn’t begun any trials in children, and a company spokeswoman said it couldn’t share any details at this time.
Fauci: Vaccines for Kids as Young as First Graders Could Be Authorized by September|by Caroline Chen|February 11, 2021|ProPublica
Investigators think the suspect might have been in the vehicle, but did not have a description or other details about the possible suspect.
Police looking for suspect who fled scene of homicide Wednesday in Reston|Justin Jouvenal|February 10, 2021|Washington Post
He said he could not share details on the contracts or consultants the Housing Commission selected.
Vacancy Tax Study Is Giving City Officials Déjà Vu|Lisa Halverstadt and Andrew Keatts|February 10, 2021|Voice of San Diego
While the exact details for the EU’s new regulation are still unknown, it’s unreasonable to expect Google to pay to link to publishers on the main search results page, as Australia is trying to strong-arm it into doing.
Google might have to subsidize journalism, but not like this…|George Nguyen|February 10, 2021|Search Engine Land

Neither the team nor police have offered details about Reid’s actions leading up to the crash, which injured two young children seated in the back seat of one of the cars.
As police continue probe of Britt Reid crash, 5-year-old remains in critical condition|Rick Maese|February 9, 2021|Washington Post
It is the steady accretion of detail that may yet be the most damaging factor in the battle for British hearts and minds.
From Playboy Prince to Dirty Old Man?|Tom Sykes|January 5, 2015|DAILY BEAST
He goes into some detail into what it took to persuade voters to pass marriage equality at the ballot box in four states in 2012.
The Real Story Behind the Fight for Marriage Equality|E.J. Graff|December 30, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Former Texas governor Ann Richards was a big fan of the Texas Rangers, a contingent of which was her protective detail.
My Love Letter to the Stetson|Mark McKinnon|December 24, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Every detail was not only perfect but itself a piece of art.
The Bookstore That Bewitched Mick Jagger, John Lennon, and Greta Garbo|Felice Picano|December 16, 2014|DAILY BEAST
His detail seeking in our meetings is compulsive and a little nuts.
Alfred Hitchcock’s Fade to Black: The Great Director’s Final Days|David Freeman|December 13, 2014|DAILY BEAST
For every detail is so marvellously symmetrical that no one is dwarfed, no one challenges special attention.
Glances at Europe|Horace Greeley
In dramatic interpretation the voice is a much more significant feature relatively than is the detail of gesture in pantomime.
Expressive Voice Culture|Jessie Eldridge Southwick
Impersonation absolutely requires the finest detail of mannerism to be represented in the action.
Expressive Voice Culture|Jessie Eldridge Southwick
And I have given this tedious detail to urge and embolden others to remonstrate against it.
Glances at Europe|Horace Greeley
He simply devoured books, studying every detail of construction, and learning a great deal as to style and effect.
The Homesteader|Oscar Micheaux

British Dictionary definitions for detail

detail

/ (ˈdiːteɪl) /

noun

an item or smaller part that is considered separately; particular

an item or circumstance that is insignificant or unimportantpassengers' comfort was regarded as a detail

treatment of or attention to items or particularsthis essay includes too much detail

items collectively; particulars

a small or accessory section or element in a painting, building, statue, etc, esp when considered in isolation

military

the act of assigning personnel for a specific duty, esp a fatigue
the personnel selected
the duty or assignment

go into detail to include all or most particulars

in detail including all or most particulars or items thoroughly

verb (tr)

to list or relate fully

military to select (personnel) for a specific duty

to decorate or elaborate (carving, etc) with fine delicate drawing or designs

Word Origin for detail

C17: from French détail, from Old French detailler to cut in pieces, from de- dis- 1 + tailler to cut; see tailor

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Other Idioms and Phrases with detail

detail

see in detail.

detail

OTHER WORDS FOR detail

Idioms about detail

Origin of detail

OTHER WORDS FROM detail

Words nearby detail

Words related to detail

How to use detail in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for detail

Word Origin for detail

Other Idioms and Phrases with detail