delay, v. 1. defer, postpone, suspend, table, shelve, SI. put on the shelf, pigeonhole, prorogue; hold off, hold up, lay over, refrain from further action, hold in abeyance, put in cold storage, put on ice, put on a back burner, hang fire, put in a holding pattern; procrastinate, wait, put off, cunctate, temporize, gain time; prolong, protract, lengthen, extend; Inf. stall, stave off, U.S. filibuster; respite, stay, reprieve.
2. impede, hinder, hamper, encumber, obstruct, hold up; detain, retard, hold back, set back, check, hold in check; confine, arrest, restrict, restrain, slow up, SI. hang up, inhibit, deter, prevent; stay, stop, halt.
3. linger, loiter, lag, dally, dillydally, dawdle, (often fol. by along) poke, Both Inf. drag one's feet, footdrag.
4. adjourn, recess, discontinue, interrupt, intermit, break off; pause, break, breathe, All Inf. take a break, take a breath, take a breather, catch one's breath, take five.
-n. 5. procrastination, tardiness, dilatoriness, cunctation; protraction, prolongation, extension; postponement, deferment, deferral, abeyance, prorogation.
6. lag, lagging, drag, dragging, Inf. footdragging; tarrying, lingering, loitering; dalliance, dallying, dillydallying, dawdling.
7. discontinuation, cessation, hiatus, adjournment, recess, interruption; wait, waiting period, interstice, interval, interim, intermission, intermittency, intermit-tence; break, pause, rest, halt, stop, breath, time-out, breathing space, breathing spell, breather; hold, holdup, hesitation, hesitancy; waiver, suspension, moratorium; reprieve, respite, stay.
8. stall, U.S. filibuster, Fabian policy,
delectable, adj. 1. delightful, enjoyable, pleasing, pleasurable, pleasant, agreeable; gratifying, satisfying; charming, enchanting, ravishing; exciting, titillating.
2. delicious, tasty, appetizing, Inf. scrumptious; savory, luscious, ambrosial, ambrosian, flavorful; palatable, toothsome, Scot. gustable.
delectation, n. 1. delight, enjoyment, pleasure, agreeableness; gratification, satisfaction; excitement, titillation, exhilaration, exultation, ecstasy, rapture, transport; gladness, elation, jubilation, joy, bliss, felicity, contentment; enchantment, charm, gaiety; diversion, entertainment, Inf. thrill, Inf kick.