lag

Lag is defined as to stay behind or fall behind

(verb)

An example of lag is to be the last runner to finish a race.

The definition of a lag is the condition of falling behind, or the amount of falling behind.

(noun)

See lag in Webster's New World College Dictionary

intransitive verb lagged, lagging

1. to fall, move, or stay behind; loiter; linger
2. to move or develop more slowly than expected, desired, etc.; be retarded in motion, development, etc.
to become gradually less intense, strong, etc.; wane; flag
to toss a marble toward a line marked on the ground to determine the order of play
Billiards to strike the cue ball so that it rebounds from the far rail to stop as close as possible to the near rail or the string line: done to decide the order of play

Origin: ? akin to obs. Dan lakke, to go slowly

noun

a falling behind or being retarded in motion, development, etc.
the amount of such falling behind; interval between two related events, processes, etc.: the lag of peak current behind peak voltage
a lagging, as in billiards and marbles
Now Rare one that lags, or is last

noun

a strip of insulating material used for covering boilers, cylinders, etc.

Origin: prob. < Scand, as in Swed lagg, barrel stave < IE base *leu-, to cut off > L luere, to cleanse, purge

transitive verb lagged, lagging

to cover with insulating material

transitive verb lagged, lagging

Origin: < ?

noun

See lag in American Heritage Dictionary 4

verb lagged lagged, lag·ging, lags

verb, intransitive

To fail to keep up a pace; straggle.
To proceed or develop with comparative slowness: The electric current lags behind the voltage.
To fail, weaken, or slacken gradually; flag.
Games To determine the order of play in billiards by successively hitting the cue ball against the end rail, the ball rebounding closest to the head rail indicating the player to shoot first.

verb, transitive

noun

The act, process, or condition of lagging.
One that lags.
A condition of slowness or retardation.
a. The extent or duration of lagging: “He wondered darkly at how great a lag there was between his thinking and his actions” (Thomas Wolfe).
b. An interval between events or phenomena considered together.

Origin:

Origin: From earlier lag, last person

Origin: , from Middle English lag-, last (in lagmon, last man)

Origin: , perhaps of Scandinavian origin

Related Forms: