1. (noun)delay, hold, time lag, postponement, wait time during which some action is awaited "instant replay caused too long a delay"; "he ordered a hold in the action"
2. (noun)delay, holdup the act of delaying; inactivity resulting in something being put off until a later time
3. (verb)delay, detain, hold up cause to be slowed down or delayed "Traffic was delayed by the bad weather"; "she delayed the work that she didn't want to perform"
4. (verb)delay act later than planned, scheduled, or required "Don't delay your application to graduate school or else it won't be considered"
5. (verb)stay, detain, delay stop or halt "Please stay the bloodshed!"
6. (verb)check, retard, delay slow the growth or development of "The brain damage will retard the child's language development"