lagging

1
[ lag-ing ]
/ ˈlæg ɪŋ /

noun

the act of falling or staying behind.

adjective

lingering; loitering; slow and dragging: lagging steps.

Origin of lagging

1
1590–1600; lag1 + -ing1, -ing2

OTHER WORDS FROM lagging

lag·ging·ly, adverb

Definition for lagging (2 of 5)

lagging 2
[ lag-ing ]
/ ˈlæg ɪŋ /

noun

the act of covering a boiler, oil tank, etc., with heat-insulating material.
the covering formed.
the material used.
a number of boards or the like joined together side by side to line an excavation.
Masonry. a number of lags, taken as a whole.

Origin of lagging

2
First recorded in 1850–55; lag3 + -ing1

Definition for lagging (3 of 5)

lag 1
[ lag ]
/ læg /

verb (used without object), lagged, lag·ging.

verb (used with object), lagged, lag·ging.

to fail to keep up with: The industry still lags the national economy.
Obsolete. to cause to lag.

noun

Origin of lag

1
1505–15; < Scandinavian: compare Norwegian lagga to go slowly

Definition for lagging (4 of 5)

lag 2
[ lag ]
/ læg /
Chiefly British Slang.

verb (used with object), lagged, lag·ging.

to send to penal servitude; imprison.

noun

a convict or ex-convict.
a period or term of penal servitude; prison sentence.

Origin of lag

2
First recorded in 1565–75; origin uncertain

Definition for lagging (5 of 5)

lag 3
[ lag ]
/ læg /

noun

one of the staves or strips that form the periphery of a wooden drum, the casing of a steam cylinder, or the like.
Masonry. a crosspiece between ribs in a centering.

verb (used with object), lagged, lag·ging.

to line or cover (an excavation) with lagging.
to cover with insulation, as a steam boiler, to prevent radiation of heat.

Origin of lag

3
1665–75; < Scandinavian; compare Swedish lagg stave

Example sentences from the Web for lagging

British Dictionary definitions for lagging (1 of 4)

lagging
/ (ˈlæɡɪŋ) /

noun

insulating material wrapped around pipes, boilers, etc, or laid in a roof loft, to prevent loss of heat
the act or process of applying lagging
a wooden frame used to support an arch during construction

British Dictionary definitions for lagging (2 of 4)

lag 1
/ (læɡ) /

verb lags, lagging or lagged (intr)

(often foll by behind) to hang (back) or fall (behind) in movement, progress, development, etc
to fall away in strength or intensity
to determine an order of play in certain games, as by rolling marbles towards a line or, in billiards, hitting cue balls up the table against the top cushion in an attempt to bring them back close to the headrail

noun

the act or state of slowing down or falling behind
the interval of time between two events, esp between an action and its effect
an act of lagging in a game, such as billiards

Word Origin for lag

C16: of obscure origin

British Dictionary definitions for lagging (3 of 4)

lag 2
/ (læɡ) slang /

noun

a convict or ex-convict (esp in the phrase old lag)
a term of imprisonment

verb lags, lagging or lagged

(tr) to arrest or put in prison

Word Origin for lag

C19: of unknown origin

British Dictionary definitions for lagging (4 of 4)

lag 3
/ (læɡ) /

verb lags, lagging or lagged

(tr) to cover (a pipe, cylinder, etc) with lagging to prevent loss of heat

noun

the insulating casing of a steam cylinder, boiler, etc; lagging
a stave or lath

Word Origin for lag

C17: of Scandinavian origin; related to Swedish lagg stave

Medical definitions for lagging

lagging
[ lăgĭng ]

n.

Retarded or diminished movement of the affected side of the chest in pulmonary tuberculosis.