delay
     n 1: time during which some action is awaited; "instant replay
          caused too long a delay"; "he ordered a hold in the
          action" [syn: {hold}, {time lag}, {postponement}, {wait}]
     2: the act of delaying; inactivity resulting in something being
        put off until a later time [syn: {holdup}]
     v 1: 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" [syn: {detain}, {hold up}] [ant: {rush}]
     2: act later than planned, scheduled, or required; "Don't delay
        your application to graduate school or else it won't be
        considered"
     3: stop or halt; "Please stay the bloodshed!" [syn: {stay}, {detain}]
     4: slow the growth or development of; "The brain damage will
        retard the child's language development" [syn: {check}, {retard}]
Source: WordNet® 2.0