Definition

1. Noun:

   • The act of delaying; inactivity resulting in something being put off until a later time: "Delay" refers to the action of postponing or causing something to happen later than planned.
   • Time during which some action is awaited: "Delay" also means a period of time when you must wait for something to happen.

2. Verb:

   • To make something happen at a later time than originally planned or expected: The core meaning is to postpone or defer an action or event.
   • To cause to be slowed down or made late: To act in a way that makes something or someone late.
   • To act later than planned, scheduled, or required: To be slow to do something; to procrastinate.

Usage Examples

• Noun:

  • The flight departure was subject to a long delay due to bad weather.
  • We apologize for the delay in responding to your inquiry.

• Verb (Transitive - with an object):

  • They decided to delay the meeting until next week.
  • The accident delayed traffic for several hours.

• Verb (Intransitive - without an object):

  • If you delay any longer, you will miss the opportunity.
  • Don't delay; send your application today.

Advanced Usage

• "Without delay": Immediately; at once.

  • The manager requested the report be completed without delay.

• "To cause delay": To be the reason for something being late.

  • The technical fault caused a significant delay in the project.

Variants and Related Words

• Delayed (adj): Happening at a later time than planned.

  • The delayed train finally arrived at the station.

• Delayer (n): A person or thing that causes delay.

  • He was seen as a delayer of progress.

• Delayable (adj): Capable of being postponed.

  • The decision is not delayable any further.

Synonyms

• Postpone (v): To arrange for something to happen at a later time.
• Defer (v): To put off to a later time; postpone.
• Hold up (v): To cause a delay for someone or something.
• Procrastinate (v): To delay or postpone action; to be slow to act.

Related Phrasal Verbs

• Delay in (doing something): To be late in performing an action.

  • There was a delay in processing the payment.

• Delay on (something): To postpone a decision or action regarding something.

  • The committee is delaying on the final proposal.

Related Idioms

• To play for delay / To use delaying tactics: To intentionally act slowly in order to gain time or avoid doing something.

  • The negotiators were accused of using delaying tactics.

• Justice delayed is justice denied: A legal maxim meaning that if legal redress is available but not delivered in a timely fashion, it is effectively the same as having no redress at all.

Noun

1. the act of delaying; inactivity resulting in something being put off until a later time
2. time during which some action is awaited
   • instant replay caused too long a delay
   • he ordered a hold in the action

Verb

1. slow the growth or development of
   • The brain damage will retard the child's language development
2. stop or halt
   • Please stay the bloodshed!
3. act later than planned, scheduled, or required
   • Don't delay your application to graduate school or else it won't be considered
4. cause to be slowed down or delayed
   • Traffic was delayed by the bad weather
   • she delayed the work that she didn't want to perform