The most common and most likely answer to this crossword clue is the 7 letter word LATENCY
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The straight part
We know that "delay" is the straight/definition part of the clue. The straight part is often a synonym or definition, in this case delay = latency.The cryptic/wordplay part
In cryptic crossword there's often an wordplay/cryptic part as well.This part involves a more complex hint, such as an anagram, homophone, hidden word, etc.
Sadly, We don't have an explanation for this specific crossword clue yet.
What does LATENCY mean?
LATENCY noun- The state of being latent.
- A delay, a period between the initiation of something and the occurrence.
- The delay between a stimulus and the response it triggers in an organism.
- A stage in Sigmund Freud's psychoanalytic theory of the psychosexual development of children where children become asexual until their sexual desires come back at puberty.