detailing

[ dee-tey-ling ]

/ ˈdi teɪ lɪŋ /

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR detailing ON THESAURUS.COM

noun

the process of thoroughly cleaning the interior and exterior of a vehicle and doing minor repairs to improve its appearance: auto detailing.

Nearby words

detachment of retina, detail, detail drawing, detailed, detailer, detailing, detain, detainee, detainer, detect, detectable

Origin of detailing

First recorded in 1970–75; detail(def 13) + -ing¹

Definition for detailing (2 of 2)

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 /

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.

Origin of detail

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 tailor¹

SYNONYMS FOR detail

10 itemize, enumerate, catalog.

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR detail ON THESAURUS.COM

Related formspre·de·tail, verb (used with object)

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for detailing

On many levels, fewer things than science—in detailing where we came from, what we are, how we function—are more human.
Girls Love Science. We Tell Them Not To.|Tauriq Moosa|July 17, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Prior to the shooting, on Friday, he posted eight videos on YouTube detailing his anger, frustrations, and plans for retribution.
Watch Santa Barbara Shooter Elliot Rodger's Chilling YouTube Video||May 25, 2014|DAILY BEAST
She is even-handed in detailing the internecine battles between Insurgents and Regulars for control of the party.
Wait for the Movie Version of Doris Kearns Goodwin’s “The Bully Pulpit”|David Nasaw|November 12, 2013|DAILY BEAST
The designer said she wanted to create “new proportions and detailing to turn gymnastic shapes into style essentials.”
Gucci Spring/Summer 2014: Sporty and Sexy|Liza Foreman|September 18, 2013|DAILY BEAST

Last January, Vincoli wrote a column for the Yale Daily News detailing self-censorship and protest restrictions on campus.
Yale’s Singapore University Criticized For Free-Speech Restrictions|Alex Klein|July 24, 2012|DAILY BEAST
We're detailing a couple of junior technicians to make a search of the library here on Gongonk Island, but we're not optimistic.
Uller Uprising|Henry Beam Piper, John D. Clark and John F. Carr
The Acts of S. Phileas are scrupulously particular in detailing every question and answer in the examination of the saint.
The Lives of the Saints, Volume II (of 16): February|Sabine Baring-Gould
Next morning we had, before starting, the unpleasant duty to perform of detailing a firing-party to execute a deserter.
The Doings of the Fifteenth Infantry Brigade|Edward Lord Gleichen
Mr. Constant and I began by detailing the particulars of our ineffectual search along the coast.
Wilson's Tales of the Borders and of Scotland, Vol. XX|Alexander Leighton
Two minutes later Sergeant Hal Overton was detailing what had happened him to the post commander.
Uncle Sam's Boys in the Philippines|H. Irving Hancock

British Dictionary definitions for detailing

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

Word Origin and History for detailing (1 of 2)

detail

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

Word Origin and History for detailing (1 of 2)

detail

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.

Idioms and Phrases with detailing

detail

see in detail.

detailing

noun

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Nearby words

Origin of detailing

Definition for detailing (2 of 2)

detail

noun

verb (used with object)

Origin of detail

Examples from the Web for detailing

British Dictionary definitions for detailing

detail

noun

verb (tr)

Word Origin for detail

Word Origin and History for detailing (1 of 2)

detail

Word Origin and History for detailing (1 of 2)

detail

Idioms and Phrases with detailing

detail