Definition of defer

< defensive

defer >

de·fer¹    (d-fûr) KEY 

VERB:
de·ferred, de·fer·ring, de·fers
VERB:
tr.

1. To put off; postpone.
2. To postpone the induction of (one eligible for the military draft).

VERB:
intr.

To procrastinate.

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ETYMOLOGY:
Middle English differren, to postpone, differ ; see differ

OTHER FORMS:
de·ferra·ble(Adjective), de·ferrer(Noun)

SYNONYMS:
defer¹, postpone, shelve, stay¹, suspend

These verbs mean to put off until a later time: deferred paying the bills; postponing our trip; shelved the issue; stay an execution; suspending train service.