/'lɪŋgə(r); `lɪŋˇɚ/
v [I, Ipr, Ip]
1 stay for a long time; be unwilling to leave 逗留; 徘徊
*She lingered after the concert, hoping to meet the star. 音乐会後她徘徊不去, 希望能一见明星.
* linger about/around/on 在附近[在周围/不断]徘徊.
2 be slow; dawdle 动作迟缓; 磨蹭; 拖沓
*There's no time to linger it'll soon be dark. 没时间拖延了--天快黑了.
* linger (long) over one's meal 慢腾腾吃饭.
3 remain in existence althoughbecoming weaker 苟延残喘; 奄奄一息
*Though desperately ill he could linger on (ie not die) for months. 他虽病入膏肓, 却尚能苟延数月.
* The custom still lingers (on) in some villages. 此风俗在有些村里至今犹存.
* The smell of her perfume lingered in the empty house. 空屋里仍然飘溢着她的香水味.

v [I]
[Date: 1200-1300; Origin: leng 'to lengthen, delay' (11-16 centuries), from Old English lengan]
alsolinger on
to continue to exist, be noticeable etc for longer than is usual or desirable
　a taste that lingers in your mouth
　Unfortunately the tax will linger on until April.
alsolinger on
to stay somewhere a little longer, especially because you do not want to leave
linger over
　They lingered over coffee and missed the last bus.
　I spent a week at Kandersteg and could happily have lingered on.
[always + adverb/preposition]
to continue looking at or dealing with something for longer than is usual or desirable
linger on/over
　Mike let his eyes linger on her face.
　There's no need to linger over this stage of the interview.
alsolinger on
to continue to live although you are slowly dying
　He surprised all the doctors by lingering on for several weeks.