v. & n.
--v.
1. tr. postpone; defer.
2 tr. make late (was delayed at the traffic lights).
3 intr. loiter; be late (don't delay!).
--n.
1. the act or an instance of delaying; the process of being delayed.
2 time lost by inaction or the inability to proceed.
3 a hindrance.
Phrases and idioms:
delayed-action (attrib.) (esp. of a bomb, camera, etc.) operating some time after being primed or set. delay line Electr. a device producing a desired delay in the transmission of a signal.
Derivatives:
delayer n.
Etymology: ME f. OF delayer (v.), delai (n.), prob. f. des- DIS- + laier leave: see RELAY