1. The amount, measured as a time interval or a proportion of the a.c. cycle, by which one periodically varying wave is delayed in phase with respect to the similar phase in another wave. Compare lead1.
2. The time interval between the transmission of a signal and its detection by a receiver.
3. The delay between a correcting signal of a control system and the response to it.
4. The persistence of the electrical image in a television camera tube; it may be several frames in duration.