delay — English Dictionary

Noun

1. A period of time before an event occurs; the act of delaying; procrastination; lingering inactivity.

   Usage

   • Countable
   • Uncountable

   Examples

   the delay before the echo of a sound

   Two twenty minutes' delays.

   More examples (3)

   Without any delay, on the morrow I sat on the judgment seat.

   The government ought to be settled without the delay of a day.

   In this article I'm thinking about the big delays, over two hours. While rare, they make the news and help to deter people from future rail travel, both travellers and news viewers.

2. An audio effects unit that introduces a controlled delay.

   Usage

   • Countable
   • Uncountable

   Examples

   The 8-bit sound quality of many early delays did indeed leave a lot to be desired (compare this to the 16-bit digital technology of CDs)

3. Synonym of promise (“object representing delayed result”).

   Usage

   • Countable
   • Uncountable

4. An amount of time provided on each move before one's clock starts to tick; a less common time control than increment.

   Usage

   • Countable
   • Uncountable

Verb

1. To put off until a later time; to defer.

   Usage

   • Transitive

   Examples

   My lord delayeth his coming.

2. To retard; to temporarily stop, detain, or hinder.

   Usage

   • Transitive

   Examples

   The mail is delayed by a heavy fall of snow.

   More examples (1)

   Mr. Cooke had had a sloop yacht built at Far Harbor, the completion of which had been delayed, and which was but just delivered. […] The Maria had a cabin, which was finished in hard wood and yellow plush, and accommodations for keeping things cold.

3. To wait, hesitate, tarry.

   Usage

   • Intransitive

   Examples

   Don't delay; this special offer ends at midnight!

   Don't delay Something tells me I gotta go away

4. To allay; to temper.

   Usage

   • Obsolete
   • Transitive

   Examples

   The watery showers delay the raging wind.

Verb

1. To dilute, temper.

   Usage

   • Obsolete

2. To assuage, quench, allay.

   Usage

   • Obsolete

   Examples

   Those dreadfull flames she also found delayd / And quenched quite like a consumed torch […].

Noun

1. time during which some action is awaited

   Synonyms

   holdtime lagpostponementwait

   Broader terms

   pauseintermissionbreakinterruptionsuspension

   Examples

   instant replay caused too long a delay

   he ordered a hold in the action

2. the act of delaying; inactivity resulting in something being put off until a later time

   Synonyms

   holdup

   Broader terms

   inactivity

Verb

1. cause to be slowed down or delayed

   Synonyms

   detainhold up

   Antonyms

   rush

   Broader terms

   decelerateslowslow downslow upretard

   Examples

   Traffic was delayed by the bad weather

   she delayed the work that she didn't want to perform

2. act later than planned, scheduled, or required

   Broader terms

   waithold offhold back

   Examples

   Don't delay your application to graduate school or else it won't be considered

3. stop or halt

   Synonyms

   staydetain

   Broader terms

   checkretard

   Examples

   Please stay the bloodshed!

4. slow the growth or development of

   Synonyms

   checkretard

   Broader terms

   changealtermodify

   Examples

   The brain damage will retard the child's language development