dɪˈleɪ dəˈleɪ dɪˈleɪ dəˈleɪ dɪˈteɪn ɹɪˈtɑː(ɹ)d weɪt slow the growth or development of The brain damage will retard the child's language development 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 stop or halt Please stay the bloodshed! the act of delaying; inactivity resulting in something being put off until a later time act later than planned, scheduled, or required Don't delay your application to graduate school or else it won't be considered time during which some action is awaited instant replay caused too long a delay he ordered a hold in the action