delay

Meaning

Noun

1. (countable, uncountable) A period of time before an event occurs; the act of delaying; procrastination; lingering inactivity.
2. (countable, uncountable) An audio effects unit that introduces a controlled delay.
3. (countable, uncountable) Synonym of promise (“object representing delayed result”).
4. (countable, uncountable) An amount of time provided on each move before one's clock starts to tick; a less common time control than increment.

Verb

1. (transitive) To put off until a later time; to defer.
2. (transitive) To retard; to temporarily stop, detain, or hinder.
3. (intransitive) To wait, hesitate, tarry.
4. (obsolete, transitive) To allay; to temper.

Verb

1. (obsolete) To dilute, temper.
2. (obsolete) To assuage, quench, allay.

Synonyms

postpone

defer

put off

retard

procrastination

postponement

procrastinate

detain

hinder

hold up

tarry

adjourn

lag

stop

🛑

linger

hesitate

slow down

hold

stall

slow

retardation

wait

respite

prolong

adjournment

obstruct

impede

stay

check

protract

lateness

be slow

suspend

hold-up

pause

loiter

deferment

halt

dawdle

drag

shelve

detainment

neglect

hold back

late

prevent

arrest

drag out

hindrance

interrupt

Translations

retarder

retard

ritardare

verzögern

Verzögerung

ritardo

aufschieben

uitstellen

délai

retraso

demorar

Verspätung

différer

retardar

uitstel

Pronounced as (IPA)

/dɪˈleɪ/

Etymology

Inherited from Middle English: delaien

Cognate with Old French: deslaier

Cognate with Old English: latian

Cognate with Old English: latu

Cognate with Old English: lǣfan

In summary

From Middle English delaien, borrowed from Anglo-Norman delaier, Old French deslaier, from des- + Old French laier (“to leave”), a conflation of Old Frankish *lattjan ("to delay, hinder"; from Proto-Germanic *latjaną (“to delay, hinder, stall”), from Proto-Indo-European *leh₁d- (“to leave, leave behind”)), and Old Frankish *laibijan ("to leave"; from Proto-Germanic *laibijaną (“to leave, cause to stay”), from Proto-Indo-European *leyp- (“to remain, continue”)). Doublet of dally.
Akin to Old English latian (“to delay, hesitate”), Old English latu (“a delay, a hindrance”), Old English lǣfan (“to leave”). More at let (to hinder), late, leave.