First Known Use: 1603
Dictionary
1detail
noun de·tail \di-ˈtāl, ˈdē-ˌtāl\
: a small part of something
: the small parts of something
: a particular fact or piece of information about something or someone
Full Definition of DETAIL
1
: extended treatment of or attention to particular items
2
: a part of a whole: as a : a small and subordinate part : particular; also : a reproduction of such a part of a work of art b : a part considered or requiring to be considered separately from the whole c : the small elements that collectively constitute a work of art d : the small elements of a photographic image corresponding to those of the subject
3
a : selection of a person or group for a particular task (as in military service) b (1) : the person or group selected (2) : the task to be performed
— in detail
: with all the particulars <explained the job in detail>
See detail defined for English-language learners
See detail defined for kids
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Origin of DETAIL
French détail, from Old French detail slice, piece, from detaillier to cut in pieces, from de- + taillier to cut — more at tailor
Related to DETAIL
- Synonyms
- item, particular, point
Synonym Discussion of DETAIL
item, detail, particular mean one of the distinct parts of a whole. item applies to each thing specified separately in a list or in a group of things that might be listed or enumerated <every item on the list>. detail applies to one of the small component parts of a larger whole such as a task, building, painting, narration, or process <leave the details to others>. particular stresses the smallness, singleness, and especially the concreteness of a detail or item <a description that included few particulars>.
Rhymes with DETAIL
abseil, airmail, all hail, assail, avail, bake sale, bangtail, blackmail, blacktail, bobtail, broadscale, broadtail, bucktail, bud scale, canaille, cattail, chain mail, coattail, cocktail, contrail, curtail, derail, doornail, dovetail, downscale, ducktail, e-mail, entail, exhale, fan mail, fantail, female, fife rail, fire sale, fishtail, folktale, foresail, foxtail, fresh gale, full-scale, gapped scale, Glendale, gray scale, greenmail, guardrail, Hallel, handrail, hangnail, headsail, hightail, hobnail, horntail, horsetail, impale, inhale, junk mail, Longueuil, lugsail, mainsail, mare's tail, Mondale, moon snail, oxtail, pass-fail, percale, pigtail, pintail, pinwale, plate rail, pot ale, prevail, rattail, regale, resale, rescale, retail, right whale, ringtail, Sangreal, Scottsdale, sea kale, shavetail, shirttail, skysail, slop pail, small-scale, snail mail, soft hail, split rail, springtail, spritsail, square sail, staysail, strong gale, surveil, swordtail, taffrail, tag sale, telltale, third rail, thumbnail, timescale, toenail, topsail, travail, trysail, unnail, unveil, upscale, ventail, voice mail, wage scale, wagtail, wassail, whiptail, white sale, whitetail, white whale, whole gale, wholesale, yard sale
2detail
verb
: to state particular facts or information about (something) : to describe or discuss the details of (something)
: to thoroughly clean (a car) in an attempt to make it look new
: to choose (a person or group of people) to do a special job
Full Definition of DETAIL
transitive verb
1
: to report minutely and distinctly : specify <detailed their grievances>
2
: to assign to a particular task
3
: to furnish with the smaller elements of design and finish <trimmings that detail slips and petticoats>
4
: to clean and refurbish (a vehicle) very thoroughly and meticulously <detail a car>
intransitive verb
: to make detail drawings
— de·tail·er noun
See detail defined for English-language learners
First Known Use of DETAIL
1650
DETAIL Defined for Kids
1detail
noun de·tail \di-ˈtāl, ˈdē-ˌtāl\
Definition of DETAIL for Kids
1
: a dealing with something with attention to each item <The news story went into detail.>
2
: a small part of something larger : item <Every detail of the wedding was perfect.>
3
: a soldier or group of soldiers picked for special duty
2detail
verb
de·tailedde·tail·ing
Definition of DETAIL for Kids
1
: to report with attention to each item <The book detailed the events.>
2
: to select for some special duty
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