Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English homepage

late

2 adverb
     
late2 S2 W3 comparative later, superlative no superlative
1 after the usual time:
The stores are open later on Thursdays.
Ellen has to work late tonight.
Can you stay late?
2 after the arranged or expected time [≠ early]
ten minutes/two hours etc late
The bus came ten minutes late.
3

too late

after the time when something could or should have been done:
The advice came too late.
4 near to the end of a period of time or an event
late in
The wedding took place late in May.
It was not a place to walk in late at night.
5

as late as something

used to express surprise that something considered old-fashioned was still happening so recently:
Capital punishment was still used in Britain as late as the 1950s.
6

of late

formal recently:
Birth rates have gone down of late.
7

late in life

if you do something late in life, you do it at an older age than most people do it
8

better late than never

used to say that you are glad someone has done something, or to say that they should do something even though they are late

➔ run late

at run1 (39)
Definition from the Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English
Advanced Learner's Dictionary.

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