What does "lag" mean?

1. (to fall behind) to move more slowly than others in a group or to fail to keep up the same speed. 2. (computing delay) a delay between a command and a response, especially in a video game or on the internet. 3. (to insulate) to wrap something, like a water pipe, in a special cover to keep it warm. 4. (a prisoner) a person who has been in prison for a long time. 5. (poker style) a style of playing poker where you play many hands and bet aggressively.

How do you use "lag"?

Often used as the phrasal verb 'lag behind'. Commonly used as an uncountable noun in gaming contexts. Transitive verb requiring a direct object. Often written in all caps as LAG.

lag

v. · n. · adj.

US //ˈɫæɡ// UK //lˈæɡ// lag

1 to fall behind (v.)
B2 Upper Intermediate

to move more slowly than others in a group or to fail to keep up the same speed.

to fail to maintain a pace or to fall behind in movement, progress, or development. Often used with the preposition 'behind'.

Example

The youngest hikers started to lag behind the rest of the group after the first hour.

Example

Economic growth in the northern provinces continues to lag behind the national average despite significant federal investment in infrastructure.

Usage

Often used as the phrasal verb 'lag behind'.
- trail
- dally
- straggle
- lead
- keep up
2 computing delay (n.)
B2 Upper Intermediate Informal Computing

a delay between a command and a response, especially in a video game or on the internet.

a period of latency between the initiation of an instruction and the resulting response in a digital system.

Example

I lost the game because there was too much lag on the server.

Example

High network lag can render real-time collaborative software virtually unusable for remote teams.

Usage

Commonly used as an uncountable noun in gaming contexts.
- latency
- delay

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3 to insulate (v.)
C1 Advanced Technical Engineering

to wrap something, like a water pipe, in a special cover to keep it warm.

to provide a pipe, boiler, or similar vessel with thermal insulation by wrapping it in protective material.

Example

You should lag your outdoor pipes before the first winter frost.

Example

The contractor was instructed to lag all exposed steam pipes to improve the building's overall energy efficiency.

Usage

Transitive verb requiring a direct object.
- insulate
- wrap
4 a prisoner (n.)
C2 Proficiency British English Slang Informal

a person who has been in prison for a long time.

a person who has been convicted of a crime and served a prison sentence.

Example

The old lag had spent half his life behind bars and didn't know how to live outside.

Example

The documentary features interviews with several old lags who describe the harsh conditions of the penal system in the 1970s.

Teacher's tip

Usually seen in the phrase 'old lag' to describe a career criminal or repeat offender.
5 poker style (adj.)
C1 Advanced Slang Technical Sport

a style of playing poker where you play many hands and bet aggressively.

an acronymic adjective for 'Loose-Aggressive'; a playing style characterised by playing a wide range of hands and frequent raising.

Example

He is a very lag player, so you never know if he actually has a good hand.

Example

Adopting a LAG strategy can be highly profitable in certain tournament structures, though it carries a significantly higher risk of ruin.

Usage

Often written in all caps as LAG.
- tight

Origin

Of unknown origin. Possibly of North Germanic origin.

Word family

Verblag
Nounlagging