linger

American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition

1. v. To be slow in leaving, especially out of reluctance; tarry. See Synonyms at stay¹.
2. v. To remain feebly alive for some time before dying.
3. v. To persist: an aftertaste that lingers.
4. v. To proceed slowly; saunter.
5. v. To be tardy in acting; procrastinate.
6. v. To pass (a period of time) in a leisurely or aimless manner.

Century Dictionary and Cyclopedia

1. To make long; prolong; protract; delay; put off; defer.
2. To spend in an inactive or tedious manner; drag: with out, and sometimes away.
3. To remain in a place or a state for an unusual, undue, or unexpected length of time; defer action, movement, decision, etc., either from inclination or necessity; hold back; tarry; delay; loiter.

Wiktionary

1. v. intransitive To stay or remain in a place or situation, especially as if unwilling to depart or not easily able to do so.
2. v. intransitive To remain alive or existent although still proceeding toward death or extinction; to die gradually.
3. v. intransitive To consider or contemplate for a period of time; to engage in analytical thinking or discussion.

GNU Webster's 1913

1. v. 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.
2. v. obsolete To protract; to draw out.
3. v. To spend or pass in a lingering manner; -- with out.

WordNet 3.0

1. v. move to and fro
2. v. remain present although waning or gradually dying
3. v. be about
4. v. take one's time; proceed slowly
5. v. leave slowly and hesitantly