detail

[[t]di͟ːteɪl[/t]]

♦♦

details, detailing, detailed

(The pronunciation [[t]dɪte͟ɪl[/t]]u> is also used in American English.)

1) N-COUNT: usu with supp, oft N of n The details of something are its individual features or elements.

The details of the plan are still being worked out...

No details of the discussions have been given...

I recall every detail of the party.

2) N-PLURAL: oft N of n/wh, adj N 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...

Full details will be announced soon.

3) N-COUNT: oft adj N A detail is a minor point or aspect of something, as opposed to the central ones.

Only minor details now remain to be settled.

4) N-UNCOUNT 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) N-COUNT 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.

6) VERB If you detail things, you list them or give information about them.

[V n] The report detailed the human rights abuses committed during the war. [Also V how]

7) VERB If someone is detailed to do a task or job, they are officially ordered to do it. [FORMAL]

[V n to-inf] He detailed a constable to take it to the Incident Room. [Also V n to n]

8) PHRASE: V inflects 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...

Neither of them were prepared to go into the detail of their talks.

9) PHRASE 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.