Dictionary definition · delay
noun
- time during which some action is awaited"instant replay caused too long a delay"
- the act of delaying; inactivity resulting in something being put off until a later time
verb
- cause to be slowed down or delayed"Traffic was delayed by the bad weather"
- act later than planned, scheduled, or required"Don't delay your application to graduate school or else it won't be considered"
- stop or halt"Please stay the bloodshed!"
- slow the growth or development of"The brain damage will retard the child's language development"
Source: Open English WordNet (CC BY 4.0).