Adjacent Words

Detail definitions

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Webster's 1828 Dictionary

DETAIL, v.t.
1. To relate, report or narrate in particulars; to recite the particulars of; to particularize; to relate minutely and distinctly; as, he detailed all the facts in due order.
2. To select, as an officer or soldier from a division, brigade, regiment or battalion.
DETAIL, n.
1. A narration or report of particulars; a minute and particular account. He related the story in detail. He gave a detail of all the transactions.
2. A selecting of officer or soldiers from the rosters.

WordNet (r) 3.0 (2005)

n
1: an isolated fact that is considered separately from the whole; "several of the details are similar"; "a point of information" [syn: detail, item, point]
2: a small part that can be considered separately from the whole; "it was perfect in all details" [syn: detail, particular, item]
3: extended treatment of particulars; "the essay contained too much detail"
4: a crew of workers selected for a particular task; "a detail was sent to remove the fallen trees"
5: a temporary military unit; "the peacekeeping force includes one British contingent" [syn: contingent, detail] v
1: provide details for
2: assign to a specific task; "The ambulances were detailed to the fire station"

Merriam Webster's

I. noun Etymology: French détail, from Old French detail slice, piece, from detaillier to cut in pieces, from de- + taillier to cut — more at tailor Date: 1603 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 Synonyms: see item II. verb Date: 1650 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> intransitive verb to make detail drawings • detailer noun

Oxford Reference Dictionary

n. & v. --n. 1 a a small or subordinate particular; an item. b such a particular, considered (ironically) to be unimportant (the truth of the statement is just a detail). 2 a small items or particulars (esp. in an artistic work) regarded collectively (has an eye for detail). b the treatment of them (the detail was insufficient and unconvincing). 3 (often in pl.) a number of particulars; an aggregate of small items (filled in the details on the form). 4 a a minor decoration on a building, in a picture, etc. b a small part of a picture etc. shown alone. 5 Mil. a the distribution of orders for the day. b a small detachment of soldiers etc. for special duty. --v.tr. 1 give particulars of (detailed the plans). 2 relate circumstantially (detailed the anecdote). 3 Mil. assign for special duty. 4 (as detailed adj.) a (of a picture, story, etc.) having many details. b itemized (a detailed list). Phrases and idioms: go into detail give all the items or particulars. in detail item by item, minutely. Etymology: F détail, détailler (as DE-, tailler cut, formed as TAIL(2))

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

Detail De"tail (d[-e]*t[=a]l"), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Detailed (-t[=a]ld"); p. pr. & vb. n. Detailing.] [Cf. F. d['e]tailler to cut up in pieces, tell in detail. See Detail, n.] 1. To relate in particulars; to particularize; to report minutely and distinctly; to enumerate; to specify; as, he detailed all the facts in due order. 2. (Mil.) To tell off or appoint for a particular service, as an officer, a troop, or a squadron. Syn: Detail, Detach. Usage: Detail respect the act of individualizing the person or body that is separated; detach, the removing for the given end or object.

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

Detail De*tail", n. (Arch. & Mach.) (a) A minor part, as, in a building, the cornice, caps of the buttresses, capitals of the columns, etc., or (called larger details) a porch, a gable with its windows, a pavilion, or an attached tower. (b) A detail drawing. In detail, in subdivisions; part by part; item by item; circumstantially; with particularity.

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

Detail De"tail (d[=e]"t[=a]l or d[-e]*t[=a]l"; 277), n. [F. d['e]tail, fr. d['e]tailler to cut in pieces, tell in detail; pref. d['e]- (L. de or dis-) + tailler to cut. See Tailor.] 1. A minute portion; one of the small parts; a particular; an item; -- used chiefly in the plural; as, the details of a scheme or transaction. The details of the campaign in Italy. --Motley. 2. A narrative which relates minute points; an account which dwells on particulars. 3. (Mil.) The selection for a particular service of a person or a body of men; hence, the person or the body of men so selected. Detail drawing, a drawing of the full size, or on a large scale, of some part of a building, machine, etc. In detail, in subdivisions; part by part; item; circumstantially; with particularity. Syn: Account; relation; narrative; recital; explanation; narration.

Collin's Cobuild Dictionary

(details, detailing, detailed) Frequency: The word is one of the 1500 most common words in English. 1. The details of something are its individual features or elements. The details of the plan are still being worked out... I recall every detail of the party. N-COUNT: usu with supp, oft N of n 2. Details about someone or something are facts or pieces of information about them. See the bottom of this page for details of how to apply for this exciting offer... N-PLURAL: oft N of n/wh, adj N 3. A detail is a minor point or aspect of something, as opposed to the central ones. Only minor details now remain to be settled. N-COUNT: oft adj N 4. You can refer to the small features of something which are often not noticed as detail. We like his attention to detail and his enthusiasm. 5. A detail of a picture is a part of it that is printed separately and perhaps made bigger, so that smaller features can be clearly seen. N-COUNT 6. If you detail things, you list them or give information about them. The report detailed the human rights abuses committed during the war. VERB: V n 7. If someone does not go into details about a subject, or does not go into the detail, they mention it without explaining it fully or properly. He said he had been in various parts of Britain but did not go into details... PHRASE: V inflects 8. If you examine or discuss something in detail, you do it thoroughly and carefully. We examine the wording in detail before deciding on the final text. PHRASE

Soule's Dictionary of English Synonyms

I. v. a. 1. Relate, recount, narrate, rehearse, delineate, portray, depict, enumerate, particularize, describe, set forth. 2. Detach, send away, appoint to a special service. II. n. 1. Account, narration, narrative, relation, recital. 2. Detachment, sending off, appointment to special service. 3. Individual part, item, particular, particularity.

Moby Thesaurus

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