lurk
verb [I usually + adv/prep]
to wait or move in a secret way so that you cannot be seen, esp.
because you are
about to attack someone or do something wrong
As I walked down the dark street, I thought I saw someone lurking
in the shadows.
Why are you lurking about in the corridor?
They wondered what else lurked behind his official statement.
[I usually + adv/prep]
It seems that old prejudices are still lurking beneath the surface.
FIGURATIVE The memory of the Wall Street crash still lurks in
(=has not completely gone
away from) the minds of bankers. [I usually + adv/prep]
FIGURATIVE There is danger lurking (=existing where it cannot
be seen) around every
corner. [I usually + adv/prep]
lurking adjective [not gradable]
As the light improved the boys discovered that the lurking giants
were nothing but a
field of tree stumps.
The device is used to help spot lurking submarines.
FIGURATIVE I have some lurking doubts (=doubts which will not
go completely away)
about whether Simon is really capable of doing this job.
FIGURATIVE She said she had a lurking suspicion (=she had a very
slight feeling) that he
wasn't telling the truth.