What is the meaning of delay?

noun

• Time during which some action is awaited.
  • usage: "instant replay caused too long a delay"; "he ordered a hold in the action"
  • synonyms: hold, time lag, postponement, wait
• The act of delaying; inactivity resulting in something being put off until a later time.
  • synonyms: holdup

verb

• Cause to be slowed down or delayed.
  • usage: "Traffic was delayed by the bad weather"; "she delayed the work that she didn't want to perform"
  • synonyms: detain, hold up
• Act later than planned, scheduled, or required.
  • usage: "Don't delay your application to graduate school or else it won't be considered"
• Stop or halt.
  • usage: "Please stay the bloodshed"
  • synonyms: stay, detain
• Slow the growth or development of.
  • usage: "The brain damage will retard the child's language development"
  • synonyms: check, retard