形容詞 late:

1. being or occurring at an advanced period of time or after a usual or expected time
2. after the expected or usual time; delayed
   同義詞：belated, tardy
3. of the immediate past or just previous to the present time
   同義詞：recent
4. having died recently
5. of a later stage in the development of a language or literature; used especially of dead languages
6. at or toward an end or late period or stage of development
   同義詞：later
7. (used especially of persons) of the immediate past
   同義詞：former, previous

副詞 late:

1. later than usual or than expected
   同義詞：belatedly, tardily
2. to an advanced time
   同義詞：deep
3. at an advanced age or stage
4. in the recent past
   同義詞：recently, lately, of late, latterly

1. Because of the cold weather the crops are late this year.
   因天氣寒冷，今年的作物成熟得晚。
2. Passengers should check in one hour before their flight time at the latest.
   乘客至遲應(yīng)在班機(jī)起飛前一小時(shí)辦理登機(jī)手續(xù)。
3. The train was 10 minutes late.
   火車晚點(diǎn)了10 分鐘。
4. We went to bed late.
   我們很晚才上床。

late

adj.（形容詞）
lat.er,lat.est 縮寫 l.
Coming, occurring, or remaining after the correct, usual, or expected time; delayed:
遲的，晚的：比正確的、通常的或預(yù)期的時(shí)間來得、發(fā)生的或持續(xù)得要晚；遲的：
例句：
The bus is late.See Synonyms at tardy
公共汽車晚點(diǎn)了參見 tardy

Beginning after or continuing past the usual or expected hour:
晚開始的，持續(xù)很晚的：比通常的或預(yù)期的時(shí)間開始得晚或持續(xù)時(shí)間超過了通常的或預(yù)期的時(shí)間：
例句：
a late breakfast; a late meeting.
推遲的早餐；推遲了的會(huì)議

Occurring at an advanced hour, especially well into the evening or night:
深夜的：很晚發(fā)生的，尤指持續(xù)至夜晚或深夜的：
例句：
a late movie on television; the late flight to Denver.
電視里在深夜播放的影片；深夜飛往丹佛的航班

Of or toward the end or more advanced part, as of a period or stage:
后期的：屬于或鄰近結(jié)尾或稍前部分的，例如一段時(shí)期或一個(gè)階段的：
例句：
the late 9th century; a later symptom of the disease.
9世紀(jì)晚期；這種疾病的晚期癥狀

Having begun or occurred just previous to the present time; recent:
晚近的，新近的：剛剛開始或發(fā)生的；最近的：
例句：
a late development.
最新發(fā)展

Contemporary; up-to-date:
當(dāng)代的；最新的：
例句：
the latest fashion.
最新時(shí)尚

Having recently occupied a position or place:
剛離任的：不久前任職或在位的：
例句：
the company`s late president gave the address.
公司的離任總裁留下了地址

Dead, especially if only recently deceased:
已故的：故去的，尤指新近亡故的：
例句：
in memory of the late explorer.
紀(jì)念已故的開發(fā)者

adv.（副詞）
later,latest
After the expected, usual, or proper time:
遲：比預(yù)期的，通常的或適合的時(shí)間晚：
例句：
a train that arrived late; woke late and had to skip breakfast.
火車晚點(diǎn)；起床遲了，不得不不吃早點(diǎn)

At or until an advanced hour:
晚，到深夜：
例句：
talked late into the evening.
聊到很晚

At or into an advanced period or stage:
后期地：在后面的時(shí)期或階段內(nèi)：
例句：
a project undertaken late in her career.
她事業(yè)后期完成的項(xiàng)目

Recently:
最近地：
例句：
As late as last week he was still in town.
就在上周他還在城里

<習(xí)慣用語>of late
Recently; lately:
近來；最近：
例句：
was feeling better of late.
最近感覺好多了

來源：
Middle English
中古英語
from Old English lôt * see lô-
源自 古英語 lôt *參見 lô-

【引伸】
late.ness
n.（名詞）
It is technically correct to use a phrase such asour late treasurer to refer to a person who is still alive but who no longer holds the relevant post, but the use offormer in this context will ensure that no embarrassing misunderstanding is created.
使用象我們的前任會(huì)計(jì) 這樣的詞組來指仍然健在不過不掌管相關(guān)的職位的人，在字義上是正確的， 但是在這樣的情況下，former 一詞能夠避免尷尬的誤解發(fā)生