delay

[1]	postpone , put off/aside , defer , temporize , suspend , shelve , hold off/up (on) , put on hold , hold in abeyance , put/keep in a holding pattern , pigeon-hole , put on ice , put in/into the deep-freeze , (Colloq) put on the back burner , (Brit) kick into touch , (US) hold off/up (on) , table
[2]	hold up/back , detain , impede , hinder , retard , keep , bog down , set back , slow (up/down) , stop , arrest , halt , check , obstruct
[3]	loiter , detain , hold up , procrastinate , hesitate , poke/drag (along) , tarry , wait , lag (behind) , dawdle , hang back , stall , linger , dally , mark time , potter/(US) putter , vacillate , (Colloq) dilly-dally , shilly-shally , drag one's feet
[4]	stay , detain
[5]	check , retard

[1]	hold , time lag , postponement , wait
[2]	holdup
[3]	postponement , deferral , deferment , wait , hold-up , set-back
[4]	lull , interlude , hiatus , interruption , gap , interval , lacuna , stop , stoppage , wait , waiting , hold-up , suspension
[5]	tarrying , loitering , dawdling , (Colloq) dilly-dallying , shilly-shallying