Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English - delay

~1 n 1 C usually singular the length of time between the moment when something should start and the moment it actually does start  (Sorry for the delay, Mr Weaver.) + of  (a delay of twenty minutes) short/long etc delay  (There was a slight delay before the show. | without delay (=immediately)) 2 a situation in which someone or something is made to wait  (severe delays)  (There are severe delays on Route 95 this morning because of an accident.) + in  (delays in transporting the goods to London) 3 the situation in which something does not happen or start when it should do  (be subject to delay (=likely to be delayed)) ~2 v 1 to wait until a later time to do something  (She delayed for months before deciding. | delay sth until)  (Ralph decided to delay his trip until April or May. | delay doing sth)  (Don't delay claiming or you may lose benefit.) 2 T often passive to make someone or something late  (The plane was badly delayed by fog.) - delayed adj