Merriam-Webster's Collegiate Dictionary
post·pone
\\(ˌ)pōs(t)-ˈpōn\\ transitive verb
(post·poned ; post·pon·ing) ETYMOLOGY Latin postponere to place after, postpone, from post- + ponere to place — more at position
DATE circa 1520
1. to put off to a later time : defer
2.
a. to place later (as in a sentence) than the normal position in English
postpone an adjective
b. to place later in order of precedence, preference, or importanceSynonyms: see defer
•
post·pon·able \\-ˈpō-nə-bəl\\
adjective
•
post·pone·ment \\-ˈpōn-mənt\\
noun
•
post·pon·er noun postpone
1500, from L. postponere "put after, neglect, postpone," from post "after" + ponere "put, place" (see position).
Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary-牛津双解-OALD7
postponepost·pone /
pE5spEun;
NAmE pou5spoun /
verb ~ sth (to / until sth) to arrange for an event, etc. to take place at a later time or date
延迟；延期；展缓
SYN put off
:
▪ [VN]
The game has already been postponed three times. 这场比赛已经三度延期了。
We'll have to postpone the meeting until next week. 我们将不得不把会议推迟到下周举行。
▪ [V -ing]
It was an unpopular decision to postpone building the new hospital. 延迟兴建新医院的决定是不得人心的。⇨ compare
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• post·pone·ment noun [U, C] :
Riots led to the postponement of local elections. 骚乱致使地方选举延期了。 Oxford Collocations Dictionary for Students of English
Oxford Collocations dictionary for students of Englishpostpone
verb
ADV. indefinitely The event has been postponed indefinitely due to lack of interest. | merely The inevitable conflict was merely postponed till the next meeting.
VERB + POSTPONE agree to, decide to, vote to | be forced to | ask sb to Ruth wrote at once, asking Maria to postpone her visit.
PREP. for Our visit had been postponed for several weeks. | from, to The match has been postponed from Wednesday night to Friday night. | till/until The meeting has been postponed until next week.
Webster's Third New International Dictionary, Unabridged
post·pone
\(ˈ)pōs(t)ˈpōn, _pəs(t)ˈ-\
transitive verb
(
-ed/-ing/-s)
Etymology: Latin
postponere to put after, neglect, postpone, from
post- + ponere to place, put — more at
position
1. : to hold back to a later time
: defer
,
delay
< postpone payments for a year >
< postpone further discussion of the matter >
< the meeting is postponed until next week >
< postponed doing her housework for a few hours >2.
a. : to place after
: put nearer the end
< postponing the verb in German >
— used especially of words and particles
b. : to place after in order of precedence, preference, or importance
: subordinate
< English law in its canons of inheritance postponed the daughter to the son — Frederick Pollock & F.W.Maitland >
< wish you never to postpone your business to literary trifling — G.B.Shaw >