Definition: linger

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Source: WordNet (r) 1.7 

linger
     v 1: remain present although waning or gradually dying; "Her
          perfume lingered on"
     2: be about; "The high school students like to loiter in the
        Central Square"; "Who is this man that is hanging around
        the department?" [syn: loiter, lounge, footle, lollygag,
         loaf, lallygag, hang around, mess about, tarry,
         lurk, mill about, mill around]
     3: leave slowly and hesitantly [syn: tarry]
     4: take one's time; proceed slowly [syn: dawdle] [ant: rush]
     5: move to and fro; "The shy student lingered in the corner"
        [syn: hover]

Source: Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) 

Linger \Lin"ger\ (l[i^][ng]"g[~e]r), v. i. [imp. & p. p.
   Lingered (-g[~e]rd); p. pr. & vb. n. Lingering.] [OE.
   lengen to tarry, AS. lengan to prolong, put off, fr. lang
   long. [root]125. See Long, a.]
   To delay; to loiter; to remain or wait long; to be slow or
   reluctant in parting or moving; to be slow in deciding; to be
   in suspense; to hesitate.

         Nor cast one longing, lingering look behind. --Gray.

         Perhaps thou linger'st, in deep thoughts detained.
                                                  --Milton.

   Syn: To loiter; lag; saunter; delay; tarry; stop; hesitate.
Linger \Lin"ger\, v. t.
   1. To protract; to draw out. [Obs.]

            She lingers my desires.               --Shak.

   2. To spend or pass in a lingering manner; -- with out; as,
      to linger out one's days on a sick bed. --Dryden.