# detail

/ˈditeɪɫ/ (US)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/detail
Updated: 2026-06-19

## Senses

### 1. a small part

noun · CEFR A2

a small part or feature of something that you might not notice at first.

For teachers: an individual feature, fact, or item, considered separately from the whole.

- The artist spent hours painting every tiny detail of the flower.
- The architect's attention to detail was evident in the intricate carvings found even in the most obscure corners of the building.

### 2. personal information

noun · CEFR A2

facts about a person, like their name, address, or phone number.

For teachers: specific items of personal information used for identification or contact.

- Please leave your contact details at the front desk.
- The registration form requires you to provide your personal details, including a valid passport number and a permanent residential address.

### 3. military/work task

noun · CEFR C1 · Formal · Technical

a small group of people chosen for a special job, often in the army.

For teachers: a small detachment of troops or a specific task assigned to such a group.

- He was assigned to the cleaning detail for the rest of the week.
- The sergeant organized a security detail to monitor the perimeter of the camp throughout the night.

### 4. to describe fully

verb · CEFR B2

to give a lot of information about something or describe it fully.

For teachers: to provide a thorough and exhaustive account of something.

- The report details all the changes we made to the project.
- The witness was asked to detail the events leading up to the accident in chronological order.

### 5. to assign a task

verb · CEFR C1 · Formal

to give someone a specific job to do.

For teachers: to appoint or assign someone to a specific duty or task.

- Two officers were detailed to watch the back door of the building.
- The manager detailed several staff members to assist with the emergency evacuation procedures during the drill.

## Examples

- Please tell me every detail of your trip.
- The architect spent hours checking every detail of the building plans to ensure there were no mistakes.
- While the general proposal was well-received by the board, the success of the merger will ultimately depend on the technical details outlined in the final contract.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.