defer

Meanings

• verb

  delay or postpone an action or decision

  - "She deferred making a decision until she had more information."
  - "He deferred payment of his taxes until next year."

• verb

  give way to or yield to someone or something

  - "The driver deferred to the pedestrian's right of way."
  - "He deferred to his superior's judgment."

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Pronunciation

1. /dɪˈfɜː(ɹ)/
   
   
   
   Source: "https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=88987439"
2. /dɪˈfɜː(ɹ)/
   
   
   
   Source: "https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=88987439"

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Rhymes

Words rhyming with defer
revere , refer , deferrer

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Variants

List of all variants of defer that leads to same result
defer , deferred , deferrer , deferrers , deferring , defers , defer to , defer to (something) , defer to something , deferred to , deferring to , defers to , chemin de fer , chemins de fer

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Forms

Different forms of the word (e.g., verb conjugations, plural forms, comparative/superlative forms for adjectives).

deferral, deferred, deferring

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Etymology

origin and the way in which meanings have changed throughout history.

Old French 'deferre' meaning 'carry away, remove, put off'.

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Trivia

Any details, considerations, events or pieces of information regarding the word

1. The word 'defer' is derived from the Old French word 'deferre', which means 'to carry away'.

2. In chess, a player can 'defer' making a move until their next turn.

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Related Concepts

informations on related concepts or terms closely associated with the word. Discuss semantic fields or domains that the word belongs to

1. delay: A period of time between the initiation of an action and its completion.

2. postponement: The act of delaying or putting off an event or action.

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Quotes

Quotes by authors and personalities

1. Backers say the arrangement will make patients more cost-conscious and judicious in their use of medical service, thus restraining health-cost increases; critics say it will cause patients to "defer" needed treatment and will be attractive only to younger, healthier workers.

   - {it}Wall Street Journal{/it},9 Jan. 2006

2. A far stronger signal came when the draft was revived, shortly before the United States entered World War II. Although married men with families were eligible for induction, in many cases up to the age of forty, high school students were automatically "deferred".

   - Thomas Hine,{it}American Heritage{/it},September 1999

3. The decision was "deferred" for a time. John didn't want to do anything drastic until after October …

   - Joe Klein,{it}Payback{/it},1984

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Culture

Any cultural, historical, or symbolic significance of the word. Explore how the word has been used in literature, art, music, or other forms of expression.

In literature, 'defer' is often used to describe a pause or delay in action, allowing tension to build. In music, the term 'defer' is sometimes used in jazz improvisation to signal a pause or break before continuing to play.

How to Memorize "defer"

1. visualize
   

   - Visualize the act of pushing something away or delaying an action.

2. associate
   

   - Associate the word 'defer' with the concept of delay or postponement.

3. mnemonics
   

   - Create a mnemonic like 'D-E-F-E-R': Delay, Execute, Fulfill, Execute, Realize.

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Memorize "defer" using Dictozo

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