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Glite Dictionary
lurking place

lurking place

9.4
A place where someone hides to wait secretly, often to do something bad
  • noun
translation icon : escondite
  • Detectives examined every possible lurking place around the crime scene for clues.

Examples

  • The suspect chose an abandoned warehouse as his lurking place before committing the robbery.

  • The alley was a perfect lurking place for thieves.

  • Dense bushes near the park became a favorite lurking place for stray animals.

  • He found a lurking place behind the bushes.

  • The old tree in the forest became a popular lurking place for deer trying to escape predators.

  • The detective found a lurking place in the shadow of the building to keep watch on the suspect.

  • She waited in a dark corner, hoping it would be the ideal lurking place for her surprise party.

Synonyms

hiding place
vslurking place
57 2.5

A secret place where nobody can find a person or thing

is more about lying in wait and often has a sinister purpose
hideout
vslurking place
55 4.0

A secret place where someone stays to avoid being found

is more about lying in wait and often serving sinister aims
hidey-hole
vslurking place
  • Informal
1 7.5

A small secret place to keep things safe or be alone

is more about lying in wait and used for secret or sinister aims
mousehole
vslurking place
1 7.0

A small narrow space where a person can hide

is often meant for ambushing or secret waiting with a sinister aim
shadowy corner
vslurking place
1 3.7

A dim part of a room or place where people cannot see well

is more specifically a place to lie in wait for secret harm

How Hidden

to lair
  • Archaic
7.5
hideout
55 4.0
lurking place
9.4
nook
40 3.0
corner
184 4.2
alley
349 1.0
open
18 1.0

Surface Forms

lurking place singular
lurking places plural

Morphology

lurk + place

The meaning is directly compositional: 'lurk' (to remain concealed or lie in wait) combined with 'place' (an area) yields a location where someone lurks. This literal, verb→location pattern is common and would be readily inferable by a B1 learner who knows both constituents.

Etymology

Lurking place comes from the image of someone lurking, quietly hiding behind bushes or in a dark corner, and a place where they can wait unseen. You can imagine a person staying out of sight to watch or surprise someone, which is why the phrase means a spot used 'to hide' and 'to wait', often for a secret or bad purpose.