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It can mean a number of things from taking the wheels off, cleaning the insides and calipers and extensive paint correction. To a wash, polish and wax.
A proper detail entails much more than that though. I will spare you the boring details, pardon the pun.
Detailing is a term I would use loosely. I am the sort of person that will happily put 7/8 hours (+more if I could spare 2 days back to back) into a car clean, but I am not a detailer.
As Jay has stated, a "detail" covers all manner of things, but the real definition is ensuring every single part of a car is cleaned, treated and looking its best. The attention to "detail" is the key.
As said it's a very broad term, for example in the user a car detail is basically what we would call a valet.
I would personally say detailing a car is just taking your basic clean to the next level. So for example where most would simply think a sponge and chamois gets a car clean, a detail entails going that bit further. Claying your paint to prep it for polish, applying a glaze, sealant, wax etc. Obviously you don't take every step everytime you wash your car. You'd then consider possibly correcting paint as well.
Interior wise most people would consider a quick vacuum and wipe down ok where as a 'detailer' would consider cleaning and protecting interior plastics rather than just cleaning them. Same goes for window rubbers, engine bay parts etc.
There's no clear definition but a 'detail' of a car is that extra attention to detail you don't see on a valet.
I get fed up of viewing cars that have been 'detailed' only to find grease in the door shut or the plastic foot rest still with mud on it.
A proper detail of a car means just that; you have covered every detail. Washing and polishing it on a sunday afternoon is not a detail.
I used to detail my wifes car and it could take 3 days! Wheels off, arches cleaned properly, even down to the foot pedals are scraped out using a small screw driver and the metal arms that hold said pedals are even cleaned and dressed.
There should be some sort of banning filter against people who use the word in the wrong context.