details

de·tail  (d-tl, dtl)

n.

1. An individual part or item; a particular. See Synonyms at item.

2. Particulars considered individually and in relation to a whole: careful attention to detail.

3. A minor or an inconsequential item or aspect; a minutia: skipped the details to get to the main point.

4. A minute or thorough treatment or account: went into detail about his travels.

5.

a. A discrete part or portion of a work, such as a painting, building, or decorative object, especially when considered in isolation.

b. A representation of such a part or portion: a detail of a Rembrandt portrait illustrating the technique of chiaroscuro.

6.

a. A small elaborated element of a work of art, craft, or design.

b. Such elements considered together: the intricate detail of a rococo altarpiece.

c. The rendering of artistic detail: the fine detail of the painter's brushwork.

7.

a. The selection of one or more troops for a particular duty, usually a fatigue duty.

b. The personnel so selected.

c. The duty assigned: garbage detail.

tr.v. (d-tl) de·tailed, de·tail·ing, de·tails

1. To report or relate minutely or in particulars.

2. To name or state explicitly: detailed the charges against the defendant.

3. To provide with artistic or decorative detail: detailed the quilt with colorful appliqué.

4. To select and dispatch for a particular duty.

5. To clean (a car interior, for example) meticulously.

Idiom:

in detail

With attention to particulars; thoroughly or meticulously: explained her proposal in detail.

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[French détail, from Old French detail, a piece cut off, from detaillir, to cut up : de-, de- + tailler, taillier, to cut; see tailor.]

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de·tailer n.

Thesaurus

Noun

1.

details - true confidential information; "after the trial he gave us the real details" inside information info, information - a message received and understood low-down, the skinny, poop, dope - slang terms for inside information; "is that the straight dope?"