What does "delay" mean?

1. (a period of waiting) a period of time when you must wait because something is late. 2. (audio effect) an electronic effect that repeats a sound shortly after it happens. 3. (to make something late) to make something happen at a later time than planned. 4. (to wait or hesitate) to wait before doing something, often because you are not ready.

Is it correct to say "The rain delayed to start the match."?

No — say "The rain delayed the start of the match.". The verb 'delay' is transitive and usually takes a noun or a gerund (-ing) as an object, not an infinitive.

delay

n. · v.

US //dɪˈɫeɪ// UK //dɪlˈeɪ// de·lay

1 a period of waiting (n.)
B1 Intermediate

a period of time when you must wait because something is late.

a period of time by which something is late or postponed.

Example

The heavy snow caused a long delay at the airport.

Example

Commuters faced a significant delay this morning after a signalling failure disrupted the main line into the city centre.
- wait
- holdup
- lag
2 audio effect (n.)
C1 Advanced Technical Music

an electronic effect that repeats a sound shortly after it happens.

an audio signal processing technique or device that records an input signal and plays it back after a period of time.

Example

The guitarist used a delay pedal to create a dreamy sound.

Example

The producer applied a subtle tape delay to the vocal track to give it more depth and a vintage character.
- echo

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3 to make something late (v.)
B1 Intermediate

to make something happen at a later time than planned.

to make someone or something late; to slow down progress or movement.

Example

The bad weather will delay our flight by at least two hours.

Example

Unexpected legal complications have delayed the construction of the new stadium until early next year.
- advance
- expedite
Pitfall

The rain delayed to start the match.

The rain delayed the start of the match.

The verb 'delay' is transitive and usually takes a noun or a gerund (-ing) as an object, not an infinitive.
4 to wait or hesitate (v.)
B2 Upper Intermediate

to wait before doing something, often because you are not ready.

to linger or procrastinate before taking action. Often used without a direct object.

Example

Do not delay — send your application in today.

Example

The general decided not to delay, ordering the troops to move forward before the enemy could regroup.
- hurry
- rush

Etymology 1

From Middle English delaien, borrowed from Anglo-Norman delaier, Old French deslaier, from des- + Old French laier (“to leave”), a conflation of Old Frankish lattjan ("to delay, hinder"; from Proto-Germanic latjaną (“to delay, hinder, stall”), from Proto-Indo-European leh₁d- (“to leave, leave behind”)), and Old Frankish laibijan ("to leave"; from Proto-Germanic laibijaną (“to leave, cause to stay”), from Proto-Indo-European leyp- (“to remain, continue”)). Doublet of dally. Akin to Old English latian (“to delay, hesitate”), Old English latu (“a delay, a hindrance”), Old English lǣfan (“to leave”). More at let (to hinder), late, leave.

Etymology 2

From Middle English delaien, from Old French delaiier, a variant of delaissier.