延缓 is a verb meaning 'to slow down' or 'to postpone temporarily'. It combines 延 (yán), which means 'to extend' or 'to prolong', and 缓 (huǎn), meaning 'slow' or 'gradual'. Together, they convey the idea of deliberately delaying or reducing the speed or progression of something—often with the intention of buying time or lessening immediate impact. Unlike simple postponement (e.g., 推迟), 延缓 emphasizes a measured, often strategic reduction in pace or intensity.

This word is commonly used in formal or semi-formal contexts—especially in health, policy, education, and environmental discussions. For example, it frequently appears in phrases like 延缓衰老 (slow aging) or 延缓病情发展 (slow disease progression). It implies agency and purpose: someone or something is actively acting to reduce speed or delay an outcome, not merely putting it off arbitrarily.