/ ˈdiːteɪl; NAmE ; US also dɪˈteɪl/ noun , verb
■ noun
FACTS / INFORMATION
1.
[ C ] a small individual fact or item; a less important fact or item :
an expedition planned down to the last detail
He stood still, absorbing every detail of the street.
Tell me the main points now; leave the details till later.
2.
[ U ] the small facts or features of sth, when you consider them all together :
This issue will be discussed in more detail in the next chapter.
The research has been carried out with scrupulous attention to detail .
He had an eye for detail (= noticed and remembered small details) .
The fine detail of the plan has yet to be worked out.
3.
details [ pl. ] information about sth :
Please supply the following details: name, age and sex.
Further details and booking forms are available on request.
They didn't give any details about the game.
'We had a terrible time—' 'Oh, spare me the details (= don't tell me any more) .'
SMALL PARTS
4.
[ C , U ] a small part of a picture or painting; the smaller or less important parts of a picture, pattern, etc. when you consider them all together :
This is a detail from the 1844 Turner painting.
a huge picture with a lot of detail in it
SOLDIERS
5.
[ C ] a group of soldiers given special duties
•
IDIOMS
- go into detail(s)
■ verb
GIVE FACTS / INFORMATION
1.
[ vn ] to give a list of facts or all the available information about sth :
The brochure details all the hotels in the area and their facilities.
ORDER SOLDIER
2.
[ often passive ] to give an official order to sb, especially a soldier, to do a particular task :
[ vn to inf ]
Several of the men were detailed to form a search party.
[also vn ]
CLEAN CAR
3.
[ vn ] ( NAmE ) to clean a car extremely thoroughly :
He got work for a while detailing cars.
••
WORD ORIGIN
early 17th cent. (in the sense minor items or events regarded collectively ): from French détail (noun), détailler (verb), from dé- (expressing separation) + tailler to cut (based on Latin talea twig, cutting).