Mooched about, stopping to idle aimlessly (8)
I believe the answer is:
loitered
'mooched' is the definition.
Although both the answer and definition are past participle verbs, I don't see how they can define each other.
'about stopping to idle aimlessly' is the wordplay.
'about' becomes 're' ('re' means regarding or about).
'stopping' indicates putting letters inside (stopping can mean blocking a gap).
'aimlessly' is an anagram indicator (the letters rearranged chaotically or aimlessly).
'to'+'idle'='toidle'
'toidle' is an anagram of 'loited'.
're' going within 'loited' is 'LOITERED'.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for loitered that I've seen before include "Hung about, with intent perhaps" , "dilly-dallied" , "Hung around idly, dawdled" , "Stood around aimlessly" , "Dallied" .)