If you defer to someone, you accept their opinion or do what they want you to do, even when you do not agree with it yourself, because you respect them or their authority. Doctors are encouraged to defer to experts. to delay something until a later date = put back defer sth until/to sth (différer, from differre . defer to 1400-1500 déférer, from deferre )
If you defer an event or action, you arrange for it to happen at a later date, rather than immediately or at the previously planned time. Customers often defer payment for as long as possible = postpone, delay
A school can defer an applicant, if the school is undecided about the application, until a later admissions cycle or until more information is available An applicant can also seek to defer attendance
[ di-'f&r ] (transitive verb.) 14th century. Middle English deferren, differren, from Middle French differer, from Latin differre to postpone, be different; more at DIFFER.