2 delay
Function:
verbInflected forms:
delays; delayed; delay·ingMeaning:
1 : to wait until later to do something : to make something happen later [+ obj] ▪ The doctor wants to delay surgery for a few weeks. ▪ They delayed [=put off] having children until their late 30s. ▪ She's planning to delay her retirement. [no obj] ▪ He delayed too long, and now it's too late. ▪ “Don't delay! Sale ends Saturday.”
2 [+ obj] : to make (something or someone) late : to make (something or someone) take longer than expected or planned ▪ Production problems delayed the introduction of the new model by several months. —often used as (be) delayed ▪ We were delayed by traffic. ▪ Many flights were delayed.
2 [+ obj] : to make (something or someone) late : to make (something or someone) take longer than expected or planned ▪ Production problems delayed the introduction of the new model by several months. —often used as (be) delayed ▪ We were delayed by traffic. ▪ Many flights were delayed.
—delayed adjective [more delayed; most delayed] ▪ He had a very delayed reaction to the medication. [=a reaction that did not happen immediately]