Definition of defers:
(v) :
(transitive) To delay or postpone.
(v) :
(intransitive) To delay, to wait.
(v) :
(ambitransitive) To submit to the opinion or desire of others in respect to their judgment or authority.
(v) :
(American football) After winning the opening coin toss, to postpone until the start of the second half a team's choice of whether to kick off or receive (and to allow the opposing team to make this choice at the start of the first half).
(v) :
(especially more common, historically) to postpone induction into military service.
(v) :
To render, to offer.