1. Lie in wait, lie in ambush, behave in a sneaky and secretive manner
   "The predator lurked in the shadows, waiting for its prey";
   - skulk
    
2. Wait in hiding to attack
   "The bandits lurked behind the rocks to ambush travellers";
   - ambush, bushwhack [N. Amer], waylay, ambuscade [archaic], lie in wait
    
3. To monitor a web forum or similar without making your presence public
   "He lurked on the forum for months before making his first post"
    
4. Spend time in one place doing little or wasting time
   "The high school students like to lurk in the Central Square";
   - loiter, lounge, footle [informal], lollygag [N. Amer, informal], loaf [informal], lallygag [N. Amer, informal], hang around, mess about [informal], tarry, linger, mill about, mill around, dillydally [informal], dilly-dally [informal], mooch [Brit, informal]

Derived forms: lurked, lurks, lurking

Type of: conceal, hide, monitor, supervise, wait, watchdog

Encyclopedia: Lurk