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retardement

delay

noun ruh-tar-duh-MAHN Rare
Time Time Expressions

Usage Note

Retardement most often appears in the fixed phrase à retardement, meaning 'delayed' or 'with a time lag', as in une bombe à retardement ('a time bomb') or rire à retardement ('to laugh belatedly'). As a standalone noun it is far less common than retard.

Examples

"C'est une bombe à retardement."

Natural Translation

It is a time bomb.

Literal Translation

It is a bomb with delay.

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