lurk Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. verb lie in wait, lie in ambush, behave in a sneaky and secretive manner
    skulk.
  2. verb be about
    loaf; footle; mess about; lallygag; linger; lollygag; tarry; mill about; hang around; lounge; loiter; mill around.
    • The high school students like to loiter in the Central Square
    • Who is this man that is hanging around the department?
  3. verb wait in hiding to attack
    scupper; lie in wait; bushwhack; ambush; waylay; ambuscade.

WordNet

Lurk intransitive verb
Etymology
OE. lurken, lorken, prob. a dim. from the source of E. lower to frown. See Lower, and cf. Lurch, a sudden roll, Lurch to lurk.
Wordforms
imperfect & past participle Lurked ; present participle & verbal noun Lurking
Definitions
  1. To lie hid; to lie in wait.
    Like wild beasts, lurking in loathsome den. Spenser.
    Let us . . . lurk privily for the innocent. Prov. i. 11.
  2. To keep out of sight.
    The defendant lurks and wanders about in Berks. Blackstone.

Webster 1913