details

1. 1
   noun

   Plural of detail.

   The investigators compared the witness's account against the known details of the case.

   His drawings capture the finest architectural details of the old cathedral.

   Note

   Here the -s counts separate points. That matters because detail also works as a mass noun: a drawing can be rich in detail with no -s at all. The countable plural also carries two practical meanings of its own. It can mean a person's name, address and other personal information, as in please leave your details. It can also mean temporary units or assignments, such as several details of soldiers sent out at once.

2. 2
   verb

   Third-person singular simple present of detail.

   The report details the sequence of failures that led to the shutdown.

   Her memoir details the years she spent working abroad.

   Note

   One spelling does three different jobs. A report that details events explains them point by point. A garage that details a car cleans it with great care, and in that sense the word is always pronounced /ˈdiːteɪl/. An officer who details a soldier assigns him to a task. All three uses are transitive, so the verb needs an object. It shares its spelling with the plural noun.

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