专四考试常见词辨析：defer还有延迟的意思

　　delay, postpone, defer, suspend, prolong, put off

　　这些动词或短语动词均有推延，延期之意。

　　delay : 普通用词，多指因外界原因推迟或耽误，也可指有意推迟。

　　My delay in going abroad is due to my illness.

　　postpone : 正式用词，语气较强，多指有安排的延期，常指明延期到一定的时间。

　　They postponed leaving because of the weather.(他们因天气原因而延迟离开。)

　　defer : 正式用词，语气强于postpone，多指故意拖延。

　　The department deferred the decision for six months.(这个部门推迟了六个月才作决定。)

　　suspend : 指暂时中断以待某种条件的实现。

　　Both sides in the conflict have agreed temporarily to suspend hostilities.(冲突双方同意暂时停火。)

　　prolong : 指把时间延长至超过正常或通常的限度。

　　Two countries prolonged signing an agreement until details could be agreed on.(两国推迟签约直到就细节达成协议。)

　　put off : 口语用词，与postpone同义，但较通俗。

　　The appointment was put off because of his illness.(由于他生病而推迟了约会。)