The noun delay has 2 senses (first 2 from tagged texts)
1. (2) delay, hold, time lag, postponement, wait -- (time during which some action is awaited; "instant replay caused too long a delay"; "he ordered a hold in the action")
2. (2) delay, holdup -- (the act of delaying; inactivity resulting in something being put off until a later time)
Overview of verb delay
The verb delay has 4 senses (first 3 from tagged texts)
1. (8) delay, detain, hold up -- (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")
2. (6) delay -- (act later than planned, scheduled, or required; "Don't delay your application to graduate school or else it won't be considered")
3. (3) stay, detain, delay -- (stop or halt; "Please stay the bloodshed!")
4. check, retard, delay -- (slow the growth or development of; "The brain damage will retard the child's language development")