Tardy vs. Delay

Tardy vs. Delay — Is There a Difference?
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Difference Between Tardy and Delay

Tardyadjective

Late; overdue or delayed.

He yawned, then raised a tardy hand over his mouth.

Delaynoun

A period of time before an event occurs; the act of delaying; procrastination; lingering inactivity.

the delay before the echo of a sound

Tardyadjective

Moving with a slow pace or motion; not swift.

Delaynoun

(music) An audio effects unit that introduces a controlled delay.

Tardyadjective

Ineffectual; slow-witted, slow to act, or dull.

His tardy performance bordered on incompetence.

Delayverb

To put off until a later time; to defer.

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Tardyadjective

(obsolete) Unwary; unready (especially in the phrase take (someone) tardy).

Delayverb

To retard; to stop, detain, or hinder, for a time.

The mail is delayed by a heavy fall of snow.

Tardyadjective

(obsolete) Criminal; guilty.

Delayverb

(obsolete) To allay; to temper.

Tardynoun

(US) A piece of paper given to students who are late to class.

The teacher gave her a tardy because she did not come into the classroom until after the bell.

Delayverb

(obsolete) To dilute, temper.

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Tardynoun

(US) An instance of a student being marked as tardy by a teacher in his or her attendance sheet.

Delayverb

(obsolete) To assuage, quench, allay.

Tardyverb

To make tardy.

Delaynoun

time during which some action is awaited;

instant replay caused too long a delayhe ordered a hold in the action

Tardyadjective

after the expected or usual time; delayed;

a belated birthday cardI'm late for the planethe train is latetardy children are sent to the principalalways tardy in making dental appointments

Delaynoun

the act of delaying; inactivity resulting in something being put off until a later time

Delayverb

cause to be slowed down or delayed;

Traffic was delayed by the bad weathershe delayed the work that she didn't want to perform

Delayverb

act later than planned, scheduled, or required;

Don't delay your application to graduate school or else it won't be considered

Delayverb

stop or halt;

Please stay the bloodshed!

Delayverb

slow the growth or development of;

The brain damage will retard the child's language development