Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English - late

~1 adj 1 »AFTER EXPECTED TIME« arriving, happening, or done after the time that was expected, agreed, or arranged  (Sorry I'm late - I overslept. | The train was late. | We apologize for the late departure of flight AZ 709. | Are we too late to get tickets?) + for  (Cheryl overslept and was late for school.) 2 »AFTER USUAL TIME« happening or done after the usual or normal time  (a late breakfast | The harvest was rather late this year.) 3 »NEAR THE END« only before noun near to the end of a period of time  (the late eighteenth century | Paul's in his late forties.) 4 as late as 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.) 5 »PAYMENTS ETC« a) paid, given back etc after the agreed date  (There are strict penalties if repayments on the loan are late.) b) be late with to pay something, bring something back etc after the agreed date  (We try never to be late with the rent.) 6 »EVENING« only before noun near the end of the day  (the late movie | We stopped by for a late drink.) 7 her late husband/the late president etc used to talk about someone who has died 8 a late developer a child whose physical size or character develops slowly 9 it's (a little) late in the day used to show disapproval because someone has done something too late for it to be effective  (It's a little late in the day to say you're sorry!) 10 late of formal having lived in a place until fairly recently  (Billy Hicks, late of this parish) ~2 adv 1 after or later than the usual time  (The stores are open late on Thursdays. | Ellen has to work late tonight.) 2 after the arranged or expected time  (The bus came ten minutes late.) 3 near to the end of a period of time or an event  (late in August/the evening/1995)  (The wedding took place late in May.) 4 of late formal recently  (Maureen hasn't been feeling too well of late.) 5 late in life if you do something late in life, you do it at an older age than most people do it 6 better late than never used to say that you are glad someone has done something, or that they should do something, although they are late  (- see also be running late run1 (48))