/ dɪˈleɪ; NAmE / noun , verb
■ noun
1.
[ C ] a period of time when sb/sth has to wait because of a problem that makes sth slow or late :
Commuters will face long delays on the roads today.
We apologize for the delay in answering your letter.
a delay of two hours / a two-hour delay
2.
[ C , U ] a situation in which sth does not happen when it should; the act of delaying :
There's no time for delay.
Report it to the police without delay (= immediately) .
■ verb
1.
to not do sth until a later time or to make sth happen at a later time
SYN defer :
[ vn ]
The judge will delay his verdict until he receives medical reports on the offender.
She's suffering a delayed reaction (= a reaction that did not happen immediately) to the shock.
[ v -ing ]
He delayed telling her the news, waiting for the right moment.
[ v ]
Don't delay—call us today!
2.
[ vn ] to make sb late or force them to do sth more slowly
SYN hold up :
Thousands of commuters were delayed for over an hour.
The government is accused of using delaying tactics (= deliberately doing sth to delay a process, decision, etc.) .
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WORD ORIGIN
Middle English : from Old French delayer (verb).