loiter Meaning, Definition & Usage

verb be about
loaf; footle; mess about; lallygag; linger; lollygag; lurk; tarry; mill about; hang around; lounge; mill around.
- The high school students like to loiter in the Central Square
- Who is this man that is hanging around the department?

D. leuteren to delay, loiter; cf; Prov. G. lottern to be louse, lotter louse, slack, unsettled, vagrant, OHG. lotar.

imperfect & past participle Loitered ; present participle & verbal noun Loitering

To be slow in moving; to delay; to linger; to be dilatory; to spend time idly; to saunter; to lag behind.
Sir John, you loiter here too long. Shak.

If we have loitered, let us quicken our pace. Rogers.
To wander as an idle vagrant. Obs. Spenser. Syn. -- To linger; delay; lag; saunter; tarry.