The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:

Detail \De"tail\ (d[=e]"t[=a]l or d[-e]*t[=a]l"; 277), n. [F.
   d['e]tail, fr. d['e]tailler to cut in pieces, tell in detail;
   pref. d['e]- (L. de or dis-) + tailler to cut. See Tailor.]
   1. A minute portion; one of the small parts; a particular; an
      item; -- used chiefly in the plural; as, the details of a
      scheme or transaction.
      [1913 Webster]

            The details of the campaign in Italy. --Motley.
      [1913 Webster]

   2. A narrative which relates minute points; an account which
      dwells on particulars.
      [1913 Webster]

   3. (Mil.) The selection for a particular service of a person
      or a body of men; hence, the person or the body of men so
      selected.
      [1913 Webster]

   4. (Arch. & Mach.)
      (a) A minor part, as, in a building, the cornice, caps of
          the buttresses, capitals of the columns, etc., or
          (called larger details) a porch, a gable with its
          windows, a pavilion, or an attached tower.
      (b) A detail drawing.

   Detail drawing, a drawing of the full size, or on a large
      scale, of some part of a building, machine, etc.

   In detail, in subdivisions; part by part; item by item;
      circumstantially; with particularity.

   Syn: Account; relation; narrative; recital; explanation;
        narration.
        [1913 Webster]

The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:

Detail \De"tail\ (d[-e]*t[=a]l"), v. t. [imp. & p. p.
   Detailed; p. pr. & vb. n. Detailing.] [Cf. F.
   d['e]tailler to cut up in pieces, tell in detail. See
   Detail, n.]
   1. To relate in particulars; to particularize; to report
      minutely and distinctly; to enumerate; to specify; as, he
      detailed all the facts in due order.
      [1913 Webster]

   2. (Mil.) To tell off or appoint for a particular service, as
      an officer, a troop, or a squadron.
      [1913 Webster]

   3. To provide with fine or intricate added decoration.
      [PJC]

   Syn: Detail, Detach.

   Usage: Detail respects the act of individualizing the person
          or body that is separated; detach, the removing for
          the given end or object.
          [1913 Webster]

WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006):

detail
    n 1: an isolated fact that is considered separately from the
         whole; "several of the details are similar"; "a point of
         information" [syn: detail, item, point]
    2: a small part that can be considered separately from the
       whole; "it was perfect in all details" [syn: detail,
       particular, item]
    3: extended treatment of particulars; "the essay contained too
       much detail"
    4: a crew of workers selected for a particular task; "a detail
       was sent to remove the fallen trees"
    5: a temporary military unit; "the peacekeeping force includes
       one British contingent" [syn: contingent, detail]
    v 1: provide details for
    2: assign to a specific task; "The ambulances were detailed to
       the fire station"