Dictionary

delay en · NOUN · etymology 1

Pronunciation

• /dəˈleɪ/ (Canada)
• /dəˈlæɪ/ (Australia, New-Zealand)
• /dɪˈleɪ/ (General-American)
• /dɪˈleɪ/ (Canada)
• (General-American) audio
• /diˈleɪ/ (General-American)
• /dɪˈleɪ/ (Received-Pronunciation)
• /dəˈleɪ/ (General-American)

Etymology

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.

Meanings

1. (countable, uncountable) A period of time before an event occurs; the act of delaying; procrastination; lingering inactivity.
   • Without any delay, on the morrow I sat on the judgment seat. 1611, The Holy Bible, […] (King James Version), London: […] Robert Barker, […], →OCLC, Acts 25:17:
   • The government ought to be settled without the delay of a day. 1848, Thomas Babington Macaulay, The History of England from the Accession of James the Second, volume 1, London: A. and W. Galignani & Co., published 1849, page 522:
   • Two twenty minutes' delays.
   • the delay before the echo of a sound
   • In this article I'm thinking about the big delays, over two hours. While rare, they make the news and help to deter people from future rail travel, both travellers and news viewers. 2019 October, Ian Walmsley, “Cleaning up”, in Modern Railways, page 42:
2. (countable, uncountable) An audio effects unit that introduces a controlled delay.
   • The 8-bit sound quality of many early delays did indeed leave a lot to be desired (compare this to the 16-bit digital technology of CDs) 2014, Dave Hunter, Guitar Amps and Effects For Dummies, page 259:
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.

Forms

Deriveds

delay time · language delay · time delay · predelay · profanity delay · delay line · call delay · delay slot · delay tactic · time-delay · rain delay · propagation delay · delay differential equation · danger in delay · Shapiro delay · multidelay · broadcast delay · pay-for-delay · round-trip delay time · tape delay

Descendants

delay · delay

Hypernyms

period

Hyponyms

lag · latency

Relateds

wait · pause · delayed

Synonyms

hesitancy · hold-up · hinder · promise · respite · hesitance · hesitation · cunctation (period of time) · postponement · deferment · delay · dilation · detain · prorogation · retard · holdoff

Translations (124)

bg отла́гане (period of time before an event occurs; act of delaying) · yi אָפּלייג (period of time before an event occurs; act of delaying) · sl zamuda (period of time before an event occurs; act of delaying) · ro întârziere (period of time before an event occurs; act of delaying) · sl odlašanje (period of time before an event occurs; act of delaying) · he איכוב (period of time before an event occurs; act of delaying) · sh kašnjenje (period of time before an event occurs; act of delaying) · az ləngimə (period of time before an event occurs; act of delaying) · fi viivästymä (period of time before an event occurs; act of delaying) · uk за́тримка (period of time before an event occurs; act of delaying) · fi aikailu (period of time before an event occurs; act of delaying) · pt atraso (period of time before an event occurs; act of delaying) · uk га́янка (period of time before an event occurs; act of delaying) · pl opóźnienie (period of time before an event occurs; act of delaying) · ko 지연 (period of time before an event occurs; act of delaying) · mi akutōtanga (period of time before an event occurs; act of delaying) · fi kuhnailu (period of time before an event occurs; act of delaying) · ast allanzada (period of time before an event occurs; act of delaying) · ks ژیر (period of time before an event occurs; act of delaying) · tr rötar (period of time before an event occurs; act of delaying) · eo prokrasto (period of time before an event occurs; act of delaying) · ti ደንጎየ (period of time before an event occurs; act of delaying) · be прамару́джанне (period of time before an event occurs; act of delaying) · cmn 延遲 /延迟 (period of time before an event occurs; act of delaying) · th ดีเลย์ (period of time before an event occurs; act of delaying) · cmn 遲延 /迟延 (period of time before an event occurs; act of delaying) · zza peymende (period of time before an event occurs; act of delaying) · sk meškanie (period of time before an event occurs; act of delaying) · fi lykkäys (period of time before an event occurs; act of delaying) · grc τριβή (period of time before an event occurs; act of delaying) · es atraso (period of time before an event occurs; act of delaying) · mi roa (period of time before an event occurs; act of delaying) · pt delay (period of time before an event occurs; act of delaying) · ja 遅延 (period of time before an event occurs; act of delaying) · ca endarreriment (period of time before an event occurs; act of delaying) · ckb پاشخستن (period of time before an event occurs; act of delaying) · ar تَأْخِير (period of time before an event occurs; act of delaying) · hu késedelem (period of time before an event occurs; act of delaying) · be затры́мка (period of time before an event occurs; act of delaying) · hi विलंब (period of time before an event occurs; act of delaying) · id keterlambatan (period of time before an event occurs; act of delaying) · as দেৰি (period of time before an event occurs; act of delaying) · gd dàil (period of time before an event occurs; act of delaying) · be спазне́нне (period of time before an event occurs; act of delaying) · az təxir (period of time before an event occurs; act of delaying) · nb forsinkelse (period of time before an event occurs; act of delaying) · be прыпы́нак (period of time before an event occurs; act of delaying) · ti ድንጓየ (period of time before an event occurs; act of delaying) · hy ուշացում (period of time before an event occurs; act of delaying) · tr gecikme (period of time before an event occurs; act of delaying) · pt mora (period of time before an event occurs; act of delaying) · arz مهلة (period of time before an event occurs; act of delaying) · he אִחוּר (period of time before an event occurs; act of delaying) · sh кашњење (period of time before an event occurs; act of delaying) · de Verspätung (period of time before an event occurs; act of delaying) · la mora (period of time before an event occurs; act of delaying) · is töf (period of time before an event occurs; act of delaying) · ga faillí (period of time before an event occurs; act of delaying) · it ritardo (period of time before an event occurs; act of delaying) · fi vitkuttelu (period of time before an event occurs; act of delaying) · az gecikmə (period of time before an event occurs; act of delaying) · fi viive (period of time before an event occurs; act of delaying) · es retraso (period of time before an event occurs; act of delaying) · gl mora (period of time before an event occurs; act of delaying) · es retardo (period of time before an event occurs; act of delaying) · ur دیر (period of time before an event occurs; act of delaying) · ko 지체 (period of time before an event occurs; act of delaying) · so daahi (period of time before an event occurs; act of delaying) · uk зволіка́ння (period of time before an event occurs; act of delaying) · sk sklz (period of time before an event occurs; act of delaying) · kk кідіріс (period of time before an event occurs; act of delaying) · fr délai (period of time before an event occurs; act of delaying) · nl vertraging (period of time before an event occurs; act of delaying) · az yubanma (period of time before an event occurs; act of delaying) · sv uppskov (period of time before an event occurs; act of delaying) · gl demora (period of time before an event occurs; act of delaying) · bg закъсне́ние (period of time before an event occurs; act of delaying) · fi jahkailu (period of time before an event occurs; act of delaying) · ti ደንጐየ (period of time before an event occurs; act of delaying) · fi viivyttely (period of time before an event occurs; act of delaying) · hu késés (period of time before an event occurs; act of delaying) · cs zpoždění (period of time before an event occurs; act of delaying) · sv fördröjning (period of time before an event occurs; act of delaying) · te ఆలస్యము (period of time before an event occurs; act of delaying) · fa دِرَنگ (period of time before an event occurs; act of delaying) · sh zakašnjenje (period of time before an event occurs; act of delaying) · fi viipymä (period of time before an event occurs; act of delaying) · he איחור (period of time before an event occurs; act of delaying) · fa دیرکَرد (period of time before an event occurs; act of delaying) · es demora (period of time before an event occurs; act of delaying) · uk заде́ржка (period of time before an event occurs; act of delaying) · ckb دواخستن (period of time before an event occurs; act of delaying) · mt dewmien (period of time before an event occurs; act of delaying) · ks ژرٛیٹھ (period of time before an event occurs; act of delaying) · ru опозда́ние (period of time before an event occurs; act of delaying) · ast atrasu (period of time before an event occurs; act of delaying) · mk одложување (period of time before an event occurs; act of delaying) · sk zdržanie (period of time before an event occurs; act of delaying) · ast allanciada (period of time before an event occurs; act of delaying) · ks ہیٹھ (period of time before an event occurs; act of delaying) · ru промедле́ние (period of time before an event occurs; act of delaying) · pt demora (period of time before an event occurs; act of delaying) · ar تَأَخَّر (period of time before an event occurs; act of delaying) · ru заде́ржка (period of time before an event occurs; act of delaying) · ca demora (period of time before an event occurs; act of delaying) · as পলম (period of time before an event occurs; act of delaying) · fi viivästys (period of time before an event occurs; act of delaying) · fi vitkastelu (period of time before an event occurs; act of delaying) · gl retraso (period of time before an event occurs; act of delaying) · uk затри́мка (period of time before an event occurs; act of delaying) · sv försening (period of time before an event occurs; act of delaying) · bg заба́вяне (period of time before an event occurs; act of delaying) · pt espera (period of time before an event occurs; act of delaying) · de Verzögerung (period of time before an event occurs; act of delaying) · ca retard (period of time before an event occurs; act of delaying) · sh закашњење (period of time before an event occurs; act of delaying) · ja 遅れ (period of time before an event occurs; act of delaying) · he עכוּב (period of time before an event occurs; act of delaying) · ks بیٹھ (period of time before an event occurs; act of delaying) · hi देर (period of time before an event occurs; act of delaying) · fr retard (period of time before an event occurs; act of delaying) · uk спі́знення (period of time before an event occurs; act of delaying) · nl oponthoud (period of time before an event occurs; act of delaying) · zza rotar (period of time before an event occurs; act of delaying)

delay en · VERB · etymology 1

Pronunciation

• /dəˈleɪ/ (Canada)
• /dəˈlæɪ/ (Australia, New-Zealand)
• /dɪˈleɪ/ (General-American)
• /dɪˈleɪ/ (Canada)
• (General-American) audio
• /diˈleɪ/ (General-American)
• /dɪˈleɪ/ (Received-Pronunciation)
• /dəˈleɪ/ (General-American)

Etymology

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.

Meanings

1. (transitive) To put off until a later time; to defer.
   • My lord delayeth his coming. 1611, The Holy Bible, […] (King James Version), London: […] Robert Barker, […], →OCLC, Matthew 24:48:
2. (transitive) To retard; to temporarily stop, detain, or hinder.
   • The mail is delayed by a heavy fall of snow.
   • Mr. Cooke had had a sloop yacht built at Far Harbor, the completion of which had been delayed, and which was but just delivered. […] The Maria had a cabin, which was finished in hard wood and yellow plush, and accommodations for keeping things cold. 1897 December (indicated as 1898), Winston Churchill, chapter X, in The Celebrity: An Episode, New York, N.Y.: The Macmillan Company; London: Macmillan & Co., Ltd., →OCLC:
3. (intransitive) To wait, hesitate, tarry.
   • Don't delay Something tells me I gotta go away 2009, Ingrid Michaelson, “Once Was Love”, in Everybody:
   • Don't delay; this special offer ends at midnight!
4. (obsolete, transitive) To allay; to temper.
   • The watery showers delay the raging wind. a. 1547, Henry Howard, Earl of Surrey, The faithful Lover declareth his Pains and his uncertain Joys, and with only Hope recomforteth somewhat his woful Heart:

Forms

Deriveds

delayingly · delayed puberty · delay no more · delayed miscarriage · nondelaying · delayed onset muscle soreness · delayed critical · delayability · delayed ejaculation · delayed criticality · delayed neutron · justice delayed is justice denied · delayed sleep phase disorder · delayal · delayable · delayism · redelay · delayed-onset muscle soreness · undelaying · delaying tactic · delayer

Synonyms

hold up · put off (put off until a later time) · defer (put off until a later time) · forslow · put on ice (put off until a later time) · detain · get in the way of · procrastinate (wait, hesitate) · moderate · adjourn (put off until a later time) · postpone (put off until a later time) · waive (put off until a later time) · quell · forslow (put off until a later time) · impede · catch · belate (retard) · wait (put off until a later time) · penelopize (put off until a later time) · suspend (put off until a later time) · calm (allay (obsolete))

Translations (117)

ar أَبْطَأَ (to put off until a later time) · sh одга́ђати (to put off until a later time) · it rimandare (to put off until a later time) · io tardigar (to put off until a later time) · sq mbodhis (to put off until a later time) · es retrasar (to put off until a later time) · pt postergar (to put off until a later time) · vi trì hoãn (to put off until a later time) · hy ուշացնել (to put off until a later time) · bg колебая се (to put off until a later time) · nl uitstellen (to put off until a later time) · da udsætte (to put off until a later time) · sh odgòditi (to put off until a later time) · grc ἀναβάλλω (to put off until a later time) · ru откла́дывать (to put off until a later time) · fr retarder (to put off until a later time) · ast atrasar (to put off until a later time) · sh odgáđati (to put off until a later time) · fi siirtää eteenpäin (to put off until a later time) · hu felfüggeszt (to put off until a later time) · eo prokrasti (to put off until a later time) · mi takaware (to put off until a later time) · fi viivästää (to put off until a later time) · es retardar (to put off until a later time) · he עִכֵּב (to put off until a later time) · bg отло́жа (to put off until a later time) · mi whakatōmuri (to put off until a later time) · zza terkneyen (to put off until a later time) · eo malfruigi (to put off until a later time) · nb utsette (to put off until a later time) · ja 遅らせる (to put off until a later time) · fi siirtää tuonnemmaksi (to put off until a later time) · fi lykätä (to put off until a later time) · lt atidėti (to put off until a later time) · hy ձգձգել (to put off until a later time) · th รอรี (to put off until a later time) · de aufschieben (to put off until a later time) · da forsinke (to put off until a later time) · bg заба́вям (to put off until a later time) · ro întârzia (to put off until a later time) · rup amãn (to put off until a later time) · pl opóźnić (to put off until a later time) · ang ieldan (to put off until a later time) · nrf r'tèrgi (to put off until a later time) · hu elodáz (to put off until a later time) · es perecear (to put off until a later time) · de verzögern (to put off until a later time) · ca demorar (to put off until a later time) · ast allanzar (to put off until a later time) · rup ntãrdedz (to put off until a later time) · vi hoãn (to put off until a later time) · ang elcian (to put off until a later time) · yi אָפּלייגן (to put off until a later time) · sq vonoj (to put off until a later time) · ru заде́рживать (to put off until a later time) · ar أَجَّلَ (to put off until a later time) · is seinka (to put off until a later time) · de unterbrechen (to put off until a later time) · de verschieben (to put off until a later time) · fi myöhäistää (to put off until a later time) · tr ertelemek (to put off until a later time) · el αναβάλλω (to put off until a later time) · de sich verspäten (to put off until a later time) · fi viivyttää (to put off until a later time) · ang lettan (to put off until a later time) · it differire (to put off until a later time) · pt retardar (to put off until a later time) · de zögern (to put off until a later time) · ang gælan (to put off until a later time) · bg отла́гам (to put off until a later time) · th ชักช้า (to put off until a later time) · ca endarrerir (to put off until a later time) · la cunctor (to put off until a later time) · ru отложи́ть (to put off until a later time) · cmn 延遲 /延迟 (to put off until a later time) · pl opóźniać (to put off until a later time) · sv fördröja (to put off until a later time) · pt adiar (to put off until a later time) · sh одго̀дити (to put off until a later time) · ro amâna (to put off until a later time) · ota صالمق (to put off until a later time) · ru задержа́ть (to put off until a later time) · sh kolebati se (to put off until a later time) · hy հետաձգել (to put off until a later time) · sh колебати се (to put off until a later time) · pt protelar (to put off until a later time) · es atrasar (to put off until a later time) · cmn 遲延 /迟延 (to put off until a later time) · pt atrasar (to put off until a later time) · da opsætte (to put off until a later time) · mi whakaakutō (to put off until a later time) · th รีรอ (to put off until a later time) · ast allanciar (to put off until a later time) · qu apatatay (to put off until a later time) · bg заба́вя (to put off until a later time) · ckb دوای ئەخات (to put off until a later time) · nn utsetja (to put off until a later time) · cmn 耽誤 /耽误 (to put off until a later time) · uk відклада́ти (to put off until a later time) · de vertagen (to put off until a later time) · la demoror (to put off until a later time) · sv skjuta upp (to put off until a later time) · hu elhalaszt (to put off until a later time) · fi viivästyttää (to put off until a later time) · uk відкла́сти (to put off until a later time) · th ลังเล (to put off until a later time) · ja 遅延させる (to put off until a later time) · ms tangguhkan (to put off until a later time) · hu elnapol (to put off until a later time) · es demorar (to put off until a later time) · nl verdagen (to put off until a later time) · fi siirtää myöhemmäksi (to put off until a later time) · la moror (to put off until a later time) · sv senarelägga (to put off until a later time) · hu halaszt (to put off until a later time) · es remorar (to put off until a later time) · ps ځنډ (to put off until a later time)

delay en · VERB · etymology 2

Etymology

From Middle English delaien, from Old French delaiier, a variant of delaissier.

Meanings

1. (obsolete) To dilute, temper.
2. (obsolete) To assuage, quench, allay.
   • Those dreadfull flames she also found delayd / And quenched quite like a consumed torch […]. 1590, Edmund Spenser, “Book III, Canto XII”, in The Faerie Queene. […], London: […] [John Wolfe] for William Ponsonbie, →OCLC:

Forms