Definition of "detail" in English

noun

1. (countable) A part small enough to escape casual notice.

   • Note this fine detail in the lower left corner.
   • We missed several important details in the contract.
   • attention to detail

2. (uncountable) A profusion of details.

   • This etching is full of fine detail.

3. (uncountable) The small parts that can escape casual notice.

4. A part considered trivial enough to ignore.

   • I don't concern myself with the details of accounting.
   • Safety at work is not a mere detail.

5. (countable) A person's name, address and other personal information.

   • The arresting officer asked the suspect for his details.

6. (military, law enforcement) A temporary unit or assignment.

7. An individual feature, fact, or other item, considered separately from the whole of which it is a part.

8. A narrative which relates minute points; an account which dwells on particulars.

9. (paintings) A selected portion of a painting.

verb

1. (transitive) To explain in detail.

   • I'll detail the exact procedure to you later.

2. (transitive) To clean carefully (particularly of road vehicles, always pronounced. /ˈdiːteɪl/)

   • We need to have the minivan detailed.

3. (transitive, military, law enforcement) To assign to a particular task.