詞彙精選：defer的用法和辨析
一、詳細釋義：
v.
（使）推遲，延期 [I,T]
例句：
Calcium apparently acts in a similar manner as some of the hormones that defer senescence.
鈣這種明顯的作用同某些激素能夠延緩衰老的作用方式相似。
例句：
Customers often defer payment for as long as possible.
顧客常常會盡可能地拖延付款。
服從 [I]
例句：
I defer to my parents because they are older and wiser.
"我聽從父母,因爲他們年長見多識廣。"
例句：
Doctors are encouraged to defer to experts.
鼓勵醫生聽從專家的意見。
二、詞義辨析：
delay,postpone,defer,suspend,prolong,put off
這些動詞或短語動詞均有“推延，延期”之意。delay普通用詞，多指因外界原因推遲或耽誤，也可指有意推遲。postpone正式用詞，語氣較強，多指有安排的延期，常指明延期到一定的時間。 defer正式用詞，語氣強於postpone，多指故意拖延。suspend指暫時中斷以待某種條件的實現。prolong指把時間延長至超過正常或通常的限度。put off口語用詞，與postpone同義，但較通俗。
三、參考例句：
They defer decisions.
他們推遲決定。
They cannot defer their departure any longer.
他們再也不能推遲動身了。
Doctors are encouraged to defer to experts.
鼓勵醫生聽從專家的意見。
I defer to your advice in these matters.
在這些事情上，我聽從你的忠告。
Customers often defer payment for as long as possible.
顧客常常會盡可能地拖延付款。
You could defer the matter to your colleague.
你可把這件事委託給同事去辦。
The company agrees to defer payment for three months.
公司同意將付款延期三個月。
Under the circumstances, we have to defer discussing this subject.
在目前情況下，我們不得不推遲討論這個問題。
This remediation activity could potentially defer landfill closure costs indefinitely.
此補救措施可能會延緩垃圾掩埋無法確定的關閉成本。
I defer to my parents because they are older and wiser.
"我聽從父母,因爲他們年長見多識廣。"
