delaydelaydelays1noun (pluraldelays)a time when somebody or something is late: There was a long delay at the airport.You must pay the money without delay (= immediately).delaydelaydelaysdelayeddelaying2verb (delays, delaying, delayed)1to make somebody or something late: My train was delayed for two hours because of the bad weather.2to not do something until a later time: Can we delay our meeting until next week?