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de|la y|ing ta c|tic (delaying tactics ) N‑COUNT [usu pl] Delaying tactics are things that someone does in order to deliberately delay the start or progress of something. □  Ministers are using delaying tactics to postpone the report yet again.

de|lec|table /d I le ktəb ^ə l/ ADJ If you describe something, especially food or drink, as delectable , you mean that it is very pleasant. □  …delectable desserts, cakes and puddings.

de|lec|ta|tion /diː lekte I ʃ ^ə n/ PHRASE If you do something for someone's delectation , you do it to give them enjoyment or pleasure. [FORMAL ] □ [+ of ] She makes scones and cakes for the delectation of visitors.

del|egate ◆◇◇ (delegates , delegating , delegated ) The noun is pronounced /de l I gət/. The verb is pronounced /de l I ge I t/. 1 N‑COUNT A delegate is a person who is chosen to vote or make decisions on behalf of a group of other people, especially at a conference or a meeting.

2 VERB If you delegate duties, responsibilities, or power to someone, you give them those duties, those responsibilities, or that power so that they can act on your behalf. □ [V n + to ] He plans to delegate more authority to his deputies. □ [V ] Many employers find it hard to delegate. [Also V n] ●  del|ega|tion N‑UNCOUNT □  A key factor in running a business is the delegation of responsibility.

3 VERB [usu passive] If you are delegated to do something, you are given the duty of acting on someone else's behalf by making decisions, voting, or doing some particular work. □ [be V -ed to-inf] Officials have now been delegated to start work on a draft settlement.

del|ega|tion ◆◇◇ /de l I ge I ʃ ^ə n/ (delegations )

1 N‑COUNT A delegation is a group of people who have been sent somewhere to have talks with other people on behalf of a larger group of people. □  He was sent to New York as part of the Dutch delegation to the United Nations.

2 → see also delegate

de|lete /d I liː t/ (deletes , deleting , deleted ) VERB If you delete something that has been written down or stored in a computer, you cross it out or remove it. □ [V n] He also deleted files from the computer system. ●  de|letion /d I liː ʃ ^ə n/ (deletions ) N‑VAR □ [+ of ] This involved the deletion of a great deal of irrelevant material.

del|eteri|ous /de l I t I ə riəs/ ADJ Something that has a deleterious effect on something has a harmful effect on it. [FORMAL ] □  Petty crime is having a deleterious effect on community life.

deli /de li/ (delis ) N‑COUNT A deli is a shop or part of a shop that sells food such as cheese and cold meat. Deli is an abbreviation for 'delicatessen'.

de|lib|er|ate ◆◇◇ (deliberates , deliberating , deliberated ) The adjective is pronounced /d I l I bərət/. The verb is pronounced /d I l I bəre I t/. 1 ADJ If you do something that is deliberate , you planned or decided to do it beforehand, and so it happens on purpose rather than by chance. □  Witnesses say the firing was deliberate and sustained. ●  de|lib|er|ate|ly ADV [ADV with v, ADV adj] □  It looks as if the blaze was started deliberately. □  Mr Christopher's answer was deliberately vague.

2 ADJ If a movement or action is deliberate , it is done slowly and carefully. □  …stepping with deliberate slowness up the steep paths. ●  de|lib|er|ate|ly ADV [ADV after v] □  The Japanese have acted calmly and deliberately.