Delay Definition

dĭ-lā

delayed, delaying, delays

verb

delayed, delaying, delays

To stop for a while; linger.

Webster's New World

To put off to a future time; postpone.

Webster's New World

To cause to be later or slower than expected or desired.

Heavy traffic delayed us.

American Heritage

To make late; slow up; detain.

Webster's New World

To act or move slowly; put off an action or a decision.

American Heritage

Synonyms:

Antonyms:

noun

delays

The act of delaying; postponement.

Responded without delay.

American Heritage

A delaying or being delayed.

Webster's New World

The period of time for which something is delayed.

Webster's New World

The interval of time between two events.

American Heritage

Synonyms:

Antonyms:

Other Word Forms of Delay

Singular:

delay

Plural:

From Middle English delaien, from Anglo-Norman delaier, Old French deslaier, from des- + Old French laier (“to leave”), a conflation of Old Frankish *latjan ("to delay, hinder"; from Proto-Germanic *latjaną (“to delay, hinder, stall”), from Proto-Indo-European *le(i)d- (“to leave, leave behind”)), and Old Frankish *laibjan ("to leave"; from Proto-Germanic *laibijaną (“to leave, cause to stay”), from Proto-Indo-European *leip- (“to remain, continue”)). 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.

From Wiktionary
Middle English delaien from Anglo-Norman delaier from Old French deslaier des- de- laier to leave of Germanic origin leip- in Indo-European roots

From American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition
From Middle French délayer, ultimately from Latin dis- + ligāre.

From Wiktionary