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Definition of hover verb from the Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary

hover

verb
 
/ˈhɒvə(r)/
 
/ˈhʌvər/
Verb Forms
present simple I / you / we / they hover
 
/ˈhɒvə(r)/
 
/ˈhʌvər/
he / she / it hovers
 
/ˈhɒvəz/
 
/ˈhʌvərz/
past simple hovered
 
/ˈhɒvəd/
 
/ˈhʌvərd/
past participle hovered
 
/ˈhɒvəd/
 
/ˈhʌvərd/
-ing form hovering
 
/ˈhɒvəɪŋ/
 
/ˈhʌvərɪŋ/
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  1. [intransitive] (+ adv./prep.) (of birds, helicopters, etc.) to stay in the air in one place
    • A hawk hovered over the hill.
    • A full moon hovered in the sky.
    Extra Examples
    • A police helicopter hovered overhead.
    • The hawk hovered in the air and then plunged to the ground.
    Topics Birdsc1
  2. [intransitive] (+ adv./prep.) (of a person) to wait somewhere, especially near somebody, in a shy or uncertain manner
    • He hovered nervously in the doorway.
    • He hovered over her, waiting for an answer.
    Extra Examples
    • He was hovering anxiously outside.
    • Phoebe was hovering in the background, uncertain what to do.
    • She couldn't bear him hovering around her.
    • She hovered uncertainly near the front door.
    Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadverb
    • nearby
    • anxiously
    • uncertainly
    preposition
    • about
    • around
    • behind
    phrases
    • hover in the background
    • hover in the doorway
    See full entry
  3. [intransitive] + adv./prep. to stay close to something, or to stay in an uncertain state
    • Temperatures hovered around freezing.
    • He hovered on the edge of consciousness.
    • A smile hovered on her lips.
    • She was hovering between life and death.
    Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadverb
    • nearby
    • anxiously
    • uncertainly
    preposition
    • about
    • around
    • behind
    phrases
    • hover in the background
    • hover in the doorway
    See full entry
  4. Word Originlate Middle English: from archaic hove ‘hover, linger’, of unknown origin.
See hover in the Oxford Advanced American Dictionary
given
adjective
 
 
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OPAL spoken words
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