1. To hang about in a place beyond the proper or usual time
   "The shy student lingered in the corner";
   - hover
    
2. Spend time in one place doing little or wasting time
   "The high school students like to linger in the Central Square";
   - loiter, lounge, footle [informal], lollygag [N. Amer, informal], loaf [informal], lallygag [N. Amer, informal], hang around, mess about [informal], tarry, lurk, mill about, mill around, dillydally [informal], dilly-dally [informal], mooch [Brit, informal]
    
3. Take one's time; proceed slowly
   "We lingered over dessert";
   - dawdle
    
4. Leave slowly and hesitantly
   "She lingered in the store, admiring the displays";
   - tarry
    
5. Remain present although waning or gradually dying
   "Her perfume lingered on"

Derived forms: lingering, lingers, lingered

Type of: balk, baulk [Brit], go away, go forth, hesitate, leave, move, off [informal], remain, stay, stay put, stick, stick around, waffle [N. Amer, informal], wait, waver

Encyclopedia: Linger, Paul