loiter

(loi'tər)
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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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.

v

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

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 N.Y. 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.

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

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

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For a list of words related to loiter, see:

• Mood and Intent - loiter: remain in place for no apparent reason; move slowly and idly; dillydally; idle; loll

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See words rhyming with "loiter."

  See crossword solutions for the clue Loiter.

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

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