1. (

• late

) being or occurring at an advanced period of time or after a usual or expected time; "late evening"; "late 18th century"; "a late movie"; "took a late flight"; "had a late breakfast" ;

2. (

• belated ,
• late ,
• tardy

) after the expected or usual time; delayed; "a belated birthday card"; "I'm late for the plane"; "the train is late"; "tardy children are sent to the principal"; "always tardy in making dental appointments" ;

3. (

• late ,
• recent

) of the immediate past or just previous to the present time; "a late development"; "their late quarrel"; "his recent trip to Africa"; "in recent months"; "a recent issue of the journal" ;

4. (

• late

) having died recently; "her late husband" ;

5. (

• late ,

) of a later stage in the development of a language or literature; used especially of dead languages; "Late Greek" ;

6. (

• late ,
• later ,

) at or toward an end or late period or stage of development; "the late phase of feudalism"; "a later symptom of the disease"; "later medical science could have saved the child" ;

7. (

• former ,
• late ,
• previous

) (used especially of persons) of the immediate past; "the former president"; "our late President is still very active"; "the previous occupant of the White House" ;