defer, delay and postpone?

Question

这三个词可以通用吗?什么情况下不太一样？谢谢。

Answer 1

defer

及物动词 vt.
1.拖延, 延缓, 推迟
The department deferred the decision for six months.
这个部门推迟了六个月才作决定。
We wish to defer our decision until next week.
我们希望推迟到下星期再作出决定。
They discussed but deferred the decision.
他们进行了讨论, 但迟迟未做决定。
Let's defer the decision for a few weeks.
咱们延缓几个礼拜再做决定吧。
They cannot defer their departure any longer.
他们再不能推迟动身了。
The ship deferred its sailing because of bad weather.
由于天气不好, 船推迟了起航时间。
不及物动词 vi.
1.服从某人的意愿, 遵从
We all defer to him in these matters.
在这类事情上我们都听他的。
We will defer to whatever the committee decides.
我们遵从委员会作出的任何决定。

delay
名词 n.
1.耽搁, 延迟
His delay made the teacher angry.
他的迟到使老师生气了。
2.被耽搁[推迟]的事件或时间
My delay in going abroad is due to my illness.
我推迟出国是因为我生病了。
3.(电话讯息从接收到直播节目转播之间的)时间间隔装置
4.【美式橄榄球】(持球队员或准备接球队员的)停顿战术，延迟动作，假动作
及物动词 vt. & 不及物动词 vi.
1.(使)耽搁, 延误
It is getting late, don't delay.
时间已晚, 不要耽搁了。
Heavy traffic delayed us.
繁忙的交通把我们耽误了。
及物动词 vt.
1.推迟, 使延期
2.推迟，使延迟，使延期，延缓
The driver delayed the drive until the weather cleared.
驾驶员延迟到天气转晴后才出车。

postpone

及物动词 vt.
1.延期; 推迟;展缓
The mother postponed all other business to the task of smoothing her crying child.
母亲放下一切别的事情, 先去抚慰哭叫着的孩子。
They postponed leaving because of the weather.
他们因天气原因而延期离开。