Verb: tarry ter-ee or ta-ree [N. Amer], ta-ree [Brit]
- Spend time in one place doing little or wasting time
"The high school students like to tarry in the Central Square";
- loiter, lounge, footle [informal], lollygag [N. Amer, informal], loaf [informal], lallygag [N. Amer, informal], hang around, mess about [informal], linger, lurk, mill about, mill around, dillydally [informal], dilly-dally [informal], mooch [Brit, informal]
- Leave slowly and hesitantly
"He tarried at the door, reluctant to say goodbye";
- linger
- Having the characteristics of pitch or tar
"Very seldom was there one that was free from resin or tarry gum";
- pitchy, resinous, resiny
Derived forms: tarriest, tarries, tarrier, tarried, tarrying
See also: adhesive
Type of: go away, go forth, leave, off [informal], wait
Encyclopedia: Tarry, Michael