dettaglio

Dettaglio is a masculine Italian noun that refers to a small part, feature, or item of a larger whole. It can indicate a specific piece of information, a minor aspect of something, or the finer points of a description, analysis, or design. In everyday language, the phrase in dettaglio means in detail, signaling thorough description or examination.

Etymology and related forms: The word derives from the Italian verb dettagliare (to detail), through the related noun dettaglio. Its development reflects the sense of isolating, specifying, or describing a particular part from a whole, a concept shared with other Romance-language terms for detail.

Usage and contexts: Dettaglio is widely used across domains such as journalism, design, crafts, technology, and business. For example, one speaks of dettaglio tecnico (technical detail), dettaglio di budget (budget item), or dettaglio decorativo (decorative detail). In art and architecture, it denotes a precise fragment or motif that contributes to the overall work. The expression a livello di dettaglio is common in discussions that compare levels of precision or completeness.

Synonyms and contrasts: Dettaglio is closely related to, but more specific than, altre parole like particolare, elemento, or caratteristica. While 'particolare' can refer to any notable feature, dettaglio emphasizes a distinct, often finer or more exact element within a larger context.

Examples: Questo dettaglio rende l'opera unica. Nel dettaglio, la procedura prevede cinque fasi. Fornire un dettaglio tecnico aiuterà i clienti a capire le caratteristiche del prodotto.