To delay or postpone.
We're going to defer the decision until we have all the facts.
After winning the opening coin toss, to postpone until the start of the second half a team's choice of whether to kick off or receive (and to allow the opposing team to make this choice at the start of the first half).
To submit to the opinion or desire of others in respect to their judgment or authority.
Hereupon the commissioners […] deferred the matter to the Earl of Northumberland.
Originally a variant of (and hence a doublet of) differ; from Middle English differren (“to postpone”), from Old French differer, from Latin differō. Doublet of differ and dilate. See also infer, coll...
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