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1. Dictionary

   de·tail

   /dəˈtāl/

   noun

   • 1. an individual feature, fact, or item: "we shall consider every detail of the Bill" Similar particularfeaturecharacteristicrespectingredientattributeitemspecificfactpiece of informationpointfactorelementcircumstanceconsiderationaspectfacetsidepartunitcomponentconstituentmemberaccessoryOpposite outlineoverview
   • ▪ a minor or less significant item or feature: "he didn't want them to get sidetracked on a detail of policy" Similar unimportant pointinsignificant itemtrivial factnicetysubtletytrivialitytechnicalityminor detailpetty detailmere detailmatter/thing of no importancematter/thing of no consequencetriflefine pointincidentalnonessentialinessentialnothingtriviaminutiaeinformal:deetsOpposite salient point
   • ▪ a minor decorative feature of a building or work of art: "a detail on Charlemagne's tomb"
   • ▪ the style or treatment of minor decorative features: "the classical French detail of the building's facade"
   • ▪ a small part of a picture or other work of art reproduced separately for close study: "detail of right eye showing marks on the lids"
   • ▪ itemized facts or information about someone; personal particulars: "the official asked for my father's details"
   • 2. a small detachment of troops or police officers given a special duty: "the candidate's security detail" Similar unitdetachmentsquadtroopcontingentoutfittask forcecrewpatrolsectionformation
   • ▪ a special duty assigned to a detachment of troops or police officers: "I didn't often get the toilet detail" Similar taskjobdutychorechargelaborpiece of workpiece of businessassignmentfunctioncommissionsecondmentmissionengagementoccupationundertakingexercisebusinessofficeresponsibilityerrand

   verb

   • 1. describe item by item; give the full particulars of: "the report details the environmental and health costs of the car" Similar presentdescribeset outset forthdraw updelineateframeexplainexpoundrelategive an account ofrecountnarratereciterehearsecataloglistspell outpoint outitemizeenumeratetabulateparticularizeidentifyspecifydefinestatedeclareannouncecitequoteinstancementionnamedesignatebe specific aboutrare:individuateOpposite outline
   • 2. assign (someone) to undertake a particular task: "the ships were detailed to keep watch" Similar assignallocateappointdelegatecommissionordainchargesendpostnominatevoteelectadoptco-optselectchoose
   • 3. clean (a motor vehicle) intensively and minutely: US "the Buick dealer gave him a job washing and detailing cars"

   Word Origin early 17th century (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’).

   Derivatives

   • 1. detailer noun

   Scrabble Points: 7

   • D

     2

   • E

     1

   • T

     1

   • A

     1

   • I

     1

   • L

     1

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