lag

B2 · Upper Intermediate Uncountable noun Computing Informal

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

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

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

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

C1 · Advanced Engineering Technical

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

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

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

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

C2 · Proficiency Countable noun British English · Slang · Informal

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

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

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

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

C1 · Advanced Sports Slang · Technical

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

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

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

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