- delay */*/
- I UK [dɪˈleɪ] / US
noun
Word forms "delay":
singular delay plural delays1)a) [countable/uncountable] a situation in which something happens later or more slowly than you expecteddelay in:Why the delay?
delay in doing something:Try to find the reason for any delay in payment.
Please excuse my delay in replying.
b) [countable] a situation in which a plane, train etc leaves or arrives lateTrees had fallen near the railway line, causing more delays.
After a long delay, the plane finally took off.
2) [uncountable] failure to do something quicklywithout delay (= quickly):We have experienced nothing but obstruction and delay from our suppliers.
I hope that discussions will take place without delay.
3) [countable] the time between an event and its result or between one event and the next
II UK [dɪˈleɪ] / US verb
Word forms "delay":
present tense I/you/we/they delay he/she/it delays present participle delaying past tense delayed past participle delayed1) [intransitive/transitive] to do something later than is planned or expectedI have delayed my return home because of the weather.
They agreed to delay the decision for as long as possible.
delay doing something:Don't delay if you want to get your order in by Christmas.
We delayed getting on board for as long as we could.
2) [transitive, usually passive] to make someone or something late or slow them downHis plane had been delayed for five hours.
If delivery is delayed, we will inform you immediately.
3) [intransitive] to deliberately take a long time to do something
English dictionary. 2014.