1. Cause to be late or slow; prevent from proceeding on schedule
   "Traffic was delayed by the bad weather"; "she delayed the work that she didn't want to perform";
   - detain, hold up
    
2. Act later than planned, scheduled, or required
   "Don't delay your application to graduate school or else it won't be considered"
    
3. Stop or prevent from proceeding or leaving
   "Bad weather delayed our flight";
   - stay, detain
    
4. Slow the growth or development of
   "The brain damage will delay the child's language development";
   - check, retard

1. The act of delaying; inactivity resulting in something being put off until a later time
   "The construction project faced a delay due to unexpected weather conditions";
   - holdup
    
2. Time during which some action is awaited
   "instant replay caused too long a delay";
   - hold, time lag, postponement, wait

Derived forms: delays, delayed, delaying

Type of: alter, break, change, decelerate, hold back, hold off, inactivity, intermission, interruption, modify, pause, retard, slow, slow down, slow up, suspension, wait

Antonym: hurry

Encyclopedia: Delay