delayed-action

Also de·lay-ac·tion

[dih-leyd-ak-shuhn]

adjective

1. (of an explosive projectile) exploding some time after hitting the target.

delayed action

noun

1. 1. a device for operating a mechanism, such as a camera shutter, a short time after setting

   2. ( as modifier )

      a delayed-action fuse

Word History and Origins

Origin of delayed action¹

First recorded in 1890–95