hover Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. verb be undecided about something; waver between conflicting positions or courses of action
    vacillate; vibrate; oscillate.
    • He oscillates between accepting the new position and retirement
  2. verb move to and fro
    linger.
    • The shy student lingered in the corner
  3. verb hang in the air; fly or be suspended above
  4. verb be suspended in the air, as if in defiance of gravity
    levitate.
    • The guru claimed that he could levitate
  5. verb hang over, as of something threatening, dark, or menacing
    brood; bulk large; loom.
    • The terrible vision brooded over her all day long

WordNet

Hov"er noun
Etymology
Etymol. doubtful.
Definitions
  1. A cover; a shelter; a protection. Archaic Carew. C. Kingsley.
Hov"er intransitive verb
Etymology
OE. hoveren, and hoven, prob. orig., to abide, linger, and fr. AS. hof house; cf. OFries. hovia to receive into one's house. See Hovel.
Wordforms
imperfect & past participle Hovered ; present participle & verbal noun Hovering
Definitions
  1. To hang fluttering in the air, or on the wing; to remain in flight or floating about or over a place or object; to be suspended in the air above something.
    Great flights of birds are hovering about the bridge, and settling on it. Addison.
    A hovering mist came swimming o'er his sight. Dryden.
  2. To hang about; to move to and fro near a place, threateningly, watchfully, or irresolutely.
    Agricola having sent his navy to hover on the coast. Milton.
    Hovering o'er the paper with her quill. Shak.

Webster 1913