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loiter

 
Dictionary: loi·ter   (loi'tər) pronunciation
 
intr.v., -tered, -ter·ing, -ters.
  1. To stand idly about; linger aimlessly.
  2. To proceed slowly or with many stops: loitered all the way home.
  3. To delay or dawdle: loiter over a task.

[Middle English loitren, probably from Middle Dutch loteren, to totter, be loose.]

loiterer loi'ter·er n.
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Thesaurus: loiter
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verb

  1. To go or move slowly so that progress is hindered: dally, dawdle, delay, dilly-dally, drag, lag, linger, poke, procrastinate, tarry, trail. Idioms: drag one'sfeetheels, mark time, take one's time. See fast/slow/velocity.
  2. To pass time without working or in avoiding work: bum1 (around), idle, laze, loaf, lounge, shirk. Slang diddle2, goldbrick, goof (off). See industrious/lazy.

 
Antonyms: loiter
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v

Definition: hang around; stroll
Antonyms: hurry, leave, rush, vamoose


 
Law Dictionary: Loiter
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To linger idly by; to move slowly about; to be dilatory, particularly in a public place, around a school, or near a transportation facility. Criminal prohibitions against "loitering" include proscription of such behavior as remaining or wandering around a public place for purposes of begging, gambling, soliciting another to engage in sexual intercourse, or for the purpose of selling or using drugs; being masked or disguised in an unusual manner; or simply not being able to give a satisfactory explanation of one's behavior. See New York Penal Law §§240.35-240.36. Loitering statutes are often quite vague and may operate to permit arrest for mere suspicion. In either instance the law will be unconstitutional. See 405 U.S. 156; 347 N.Y.S. 2d 33. See probable cause; void for vagueness.

 
Word Tutor: loiter
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pronunciation

IN BRIEF: To spend time in an idle manner by standing around.

pronunciation Do not loiter by the front of the store or you will be shooed away.

 
Translations: Loiter
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Dansk (Danish)
v. intr. - drive, slentre, daske, gå i ro og mag

idioms:

  • loiter with intent    drive omkring med henblik på at begå en forbrydelse

Nederlands (Dutch)
talmen, treuzelen, rondslenteren, achterblijven

Français (French)
v. intr. - traîner, flâner, rôder

idioms:

  • loiter with intent    rôder avec intention de commettre un délit

Deutsch (German)
v. - bummeln, herumlungern

idioms:

  • loiter with intent    sich mit krimineller Absicht irgendwo aufhalten

Ελληνική (Greek)
v. - χασομεράω, χρονοτριβώ, χαζεύω, χαζολογάω

idioms:

  • loiter with intent    περιφέρομαι με κακές προθέσεις

Italiano (Italian)
indugiare

idioms:

  • loiter with intent    vagabondare

Português (Portuguese)
v. - vagabundear, passar/matar o tempo, demorar-se, andar devagar

idioms:

  • loiter with intent    perder tempo de propósito

Русский (Russian)
слоняться без дела, мешкать, плестись

idioms:

  • loiter with intent    намеренно терять время

Español (Spanish)
v. intr. - demorarse, retrasarse, callejear, holgazanear

idioms:

  • loiter with intent    merodear con fines criminales

Svenska (Swedish)
v. - söla, gå och masa, dra benen efter sig, gå (köra) i sakta mak, stå och hänga

中文(简体)(Chinese (Simplified))
闲逛, 游荡, 消磨时光

idioms:

  • loiter with intent    有计划做坏事的闲逛

中文(繁體)(Chinese (Traditional))
v. intr. - 閒逛, 遊蕩, 消磨時光

idioms:

  • loiter with intent    有計劃做壞事的閒逛

한국어 (Korean)
v. intr. - 어슬렁거리다, 늦장부리다, 헤매다

日本語 (Japanese)
v. - 道草を食う, ぶらつく, ひまどる, ぶらぶら暮らす

idioms:

  • loiter with intent    重罪をもくろんでうろつく

العربيه (Arabic)
‏(فعل) يتوانى, يتلكأ, يتسكع, يتخلف, يتأخر‏

עברית (Hebrew)
v. intr. - ‮ביטל זמן, התנהל לאיטו, התמהמה‬


 
 
Learn More
linger
Swanda (family name)
dilly-dally

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Dictionary. The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition Copyright © 2007, 2000 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Updated in 2007. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.  Read more
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