▪ intended to cause delay:"they resorted to dilatory tactics, forcing a postponement of peace talks"Similardelayingstallingtemporizingprocrastinatingpostponingdeferringputting offtablingshelvingtime-wastingdallyingdilly-dallyingloiteringlingeringdawdlingtarryingrare:Fabian
Word Originlate Middle English: from late Latin dilatorius ‘delaying’, from Latin dilator ‘delayer’, from dilat- ‘deferred’, from the verb differre.