dilatory
UK/'dilәtәri/US
GREC2
Definitions
adj.
Slow to act; tending to delay or waste time.
拖拉的，磨蹭的。
adj.
Intended to cause delay (especially of tactics).
（尤指手段）旨在拖延的。
Root Breakdown
Root-deriveddi- (apart) + lāt (carried) + -ory (tending to) = 'tending to carry things apart in time.' To dilate a matter was to spread it out, draw it out — so dilatory means dragging things out, slow, delaying.
Root lat still carries 15 more wordsCommon Collocations
- 1.dilatory tactics拖延战术
- 2.dilatory response拖沓的反应
- 3.dilatory manner拖拉的态度
Example Sentences
- 1.
The committee was criticized for its dilatory response.
- 2.
He used dilatory tactics to postpone the vote.
- 3.
Their dilatory approach delayed the whole project.