1. (

• 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" ;

2. (

• delay

) act later than planned, scheduled, or required; "Don't delay your application to graduate school or else it won't be considered" ;

3. (

• stay ,
• detain ,
• delay ,

) stop or halt; "Please stay the bloodshed!" ;

4. (

• check ,
• retard ,
• delay ,

) slow the growth or development of; "The brain damage will retard the child's language development" ;