delay¹ /di-lāˈ/

1. To put off to another time
2. To defer
3. To hinder or retard (eg an engine's timing)

To pause, linger, or put off time

1. A putting off or deferring
2. The (amount of) time during which something is put off
3. A pause
4. A hindrance
5. A device by which the operation of a mechanism can be timed to take place after an interval

delayˈer noun

delayˈingly adverb

delayed action noun

The operation of a switch, detonation of explosives, etc some time after the mechanism has been set

delayed drop noun (aeronautics)

A parachute descent in which the parachutist deliberately delays pulling the ripcord

delayed neutron noun (physics)

A neutron emitted with an apparent delay during fission which arises from the breakdown of fission products, not the primary fission (cf prompt neutron under prompt)

delay line noun (elec)

A device for delaying the transmission of an electrical signal

delay² /di-lāˈ/ (Spenser, etc)

To temper, dilute, weaken

• take precedence
• take pride in
• take prisoner
• taker
• take rank of
• take rise
• take root
• takers
• takes
• take shape
• take ship
• take shipping
• take short
• take sides
• take silk
• take someone at her word
• take someone at his word
• take someone out of herself
• take someone out of himself
• take someone's breath away
• take someone's fancy
• take someone's life
• take someone's measure
• take someone's mind off
• take someone's part