To delay someone or something temporarily; to keep at bay.
To delay commencing (an action until some specified time or event has passed).
To take in the slack of (a rope).
To reduce or diminish in amount, quantity, or extent; to lessen.
To reduce (sail) by taking it in.
To become shorter.
To make shorter; to abbreviate.
To make short or friable, as pastry, with butter, lard, etc.
To make deficient (as to); to deprive (of).