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Relay vs Delay - What's the difference?

relay | delay |

As nouns the difference between relay and delay

is that relay is a new set of hounds while delay is a period of time before an event occurs; the act of delaying; procrastination; lingering inactivity.

As verbs the difference between relay and delay

is that relay is to release a new set of hounds while delay is to put off until a later time; to defer.

relay

English

Etymology 1

From (etyl) , of uncertain origin.

Noun

(en noun)
  • (by extension) A new set of anything.
  • * Charles Dickens, Dombey and Son
  • There is a snaky gleam in her hard grey eye, as of anticipated rounds of buttered toast, relays of hot chops, worryings and quellings of young children, sharp snappings at poor Berry, and all the other delights of her Ogress's castle.
  • A series of vehicles travelling in sequence.
  • (athletics) A track and field discipline where runners take turns in carrying a baton from start to finish. Most common events are 4x100 meter and 4x400 meter competitions.
  • (electronics) An electrical actuator that allows a relatively small electrical voltage or current to control a larger voltage or current.
  • Derived terms
    * relay race

    Verb

    (en verb)
  • (obsolete, intransitive, hunting) To release a new set of hounds.
  • To pass on or transfer (information).
  • Synonyms
    * (to relay a message) convey

    Etymology 2

    delay

    English

    (wikipedia delay)

    Etymology 1

    From (etyl) . More at let (to hinder), late, leave.

    Verb

    (en verb)
  • To put off until a later time; to defer.
  • * Bible, (w) xxiv. 48
  • My lord delayeth his coming.
  • To retard; to stop, detain, or hinder, for a time.
  • *
  • , title=(The Celebrity), chapter=10 , passage=Mr. Cooke had had a sloop?yacht built at Far Harbor, the completion of which had been delayed , and which was but just delivered. […] The Maria had a cabin, which was finished in hard wood and yellow plush, and accommodations for keeping things cold.}}
  • (label) To allay; to temper.
  • * (Edmund Spenser) (c.1552–1599)
  • The watery showers delay the raging wind.
    Usage notes
    * This is a catenative verb that takes the gerund (-ing) . See
    Synonyms
    * See also * adjourn * defer * forslow * postpone * put off * put on ice * suspend

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • A period of time before an event occurs; the act of delaying; procrastination; lingering inactivity.
  • the delay before the echo of a sound
  • * Bible, Acts xxv. 17
  • Without any delay , on the morrow I sat on the judgment seat.
  • * Macaulay
  • The government ought to be settled without the delay of a day.

    Etymology 2

    From (etyl) .

    Verb

    (en verb)
  • (obsolete) To dilute, temper.
  • (obsolete) To assuage, quench, allay.
  • * 1590 , (Edmund Spenser), The Faerie Queene , III.12:
  • Those dreadfull flames she also found delayd / And quenched quite like a consumed torch […].

    Anagrams

    * *