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1. Dictionary

   idle

   /ˈʌɪdl/

   adjective

   • 1. (of a person) avoiding work; lazy: "idle students" Similar lazyindolentslothfulwork-shyshiftlessloafinginactiveinertsluggishlethargiclanguorouslistlesstorpidremissnegligentslacklaxlackadaisicalimpassivegood-for-nothingdo-nothingleisurelyinformal:bone idlearchaic:fainéantrare:otioseOpposite industrious
   • ▪ (of a person) not working; unemployed: "10.3 per cent of the workforce is now idle" Similar unemployedjoblessout of workout of a jobbetween jobsworklessunwagedunoccupiedredundantinformal:on the dolesigning oneuphemistic:restinginformal:on the wallaby trackOpposite employed
   • ▪ (especially of a machine or factory) not active or in use: "the mill has been standing idle for eight years" Similar not in useout of usenot operatingnot workinginactiveout of actioninoperativenon-functioningout of serviceunusedunoccupiedunemployeddisusedno longer in usefallen into disusemothballedOpposite working
   • ▪ (of time) characterized by inaction or absence of significant activity: "at no time in the day must there be an idle moment" Similar unoccupiedspareemptyvacantunfilledavailableOpposite busyfull
   • ▪ (of money) held in cash or in accounts paying no interest.
   • 2. without purpose or effect; pointless: "he did not want to waste valuable time in idle chatter" Similar frivoloustrivialtriflingminorpettyfoolishlightweightshallowsuperficialinsignificantunimportantworthlessvaluelesspointlesspaltrynigglingperipheralwithout depthinanefatuoussenselessmeaninglesspurposelessunnecessarytime-wastingOpposite seriousmeaningful
   • ▪ (especially of a threat or boast) without foundation: "I knew Ellen did not make idle threats" Similar emptymeaninglessaimlesspointlessworthlessuselessvainin vaininsubstantialfutileineffectiveineffectualgroundlesswithout groundsbaselesswithout/lacking foundationOpposite serious

   verb

   • 1. spend time doing nothing: "four men were idling outside the shop" Similar do nothingbe inactivevegetatesit backtake it easyrest on one's oarsmark timekick one's heelstwiddle one's thumbskill timelanguishlaze (about)laze (around)lounge (about)lounge (around)loll (about)loll (around)loaf (about)loaf (around)slouch (about)slouch (around)go to seeddegeneratemoulderstagnateinformal:hang aroundhang aboutveg outmooch aboutmooch aroundslummockbum aroundbat aroundlollygaglay on one's oarsfritterwhilelazeloiterpassspenduseemployuse upoccupytake upfill upfill infillbeguileexpenddevotewastedissipatekill
   • ▪ move aimlessly or lazily: "Robert idled along the pavement" Similar saunterstrolldawdledriftpotteramblego/walk slowlyloitermaunderwanderstraggleinformal:moseytootlepootlemoochswan
   • ▪ take out of use or employment: North American "he will close the newspaper, idling 2,200 workers" Similar saunterstrolldawdledriftpotteramblego/walk slowlyloitermaunderwanderstraggleinformal:moseytootlepootlemoochswan
   • 2. (of an engine) run slowly while disconnected from a load or out of gear: "Nadine kept the engine idling" Similar tick overrun slowly in neutral
   • ▪ cause (an engine) to idle. Similar tick overrun slowly in neutral

   Word Origin Old Englishīdel ‘empty, useless’, of West Germanic origin; related to Dutch ijdel ‘vain, frivolous, useless’ and German eitel ‘bare, worthless’.

   Scrabble Points: 5

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2. dictionary.cambridge.org › dictionary › englishIDLE | English meaning - Cambridge Dictionary

   dictionary.cambridge.org › dictionary › english

   • Cached

   Learn the meaning of idle as an adjective and a verb in English, with synonyms, antonyms, and usage examples. Find out how to use idle in different contexts, such as production, finance, and workplace.

   • English (US)

     IDLE meaning: 1. not working or being used: 2. An idle...

   • Idle Time

     IDLE TIME definition: 1. the period of time when a computer...

   • Idle Spanish Translation

     IDLE translate: parado, frívolo, vano, vago, holgazán, no...

   • Bone Idle

     BONE IDLE definition: 1. extremely lazy: 2. extremely lazy:...

   • Idle: Japanese Translation

     IDLE translate: 使われていない, 無意味な, 怠け者の, 怠ける, 使（つか）われていない,...

   • Idle: Arabic Translation

     IDLE translate: عاطِل عن العَمَل, فارِغ, كَسول, يُضيع...

   • Idle: Catalan Translation

     idle translate: parat, frívol, va, mandrós, gandul, fer el...

   • Idle: Italian Translation

     IDLE translate: inattivo, superficiale, ozioso, ozioso,...

3. www.merriam-webster.com › dictionary › idleIdle Definition & Meaning - Merriam-Webster

   www.merriam-webster.com › dictionary › idle

   • Cached

   Learn the meaning of idle as an adjective and a verb, with synonyms, examples, and word history. Find out how to use idle to describe something or someone that is not occupied, employed, or worthwhile, or to spend time doing nothing.

4. www.dictionary.com › browse › idleIDLE Definition & Meaning | Dictionary.com

   www.dictionary.com › browse › idle

   • Cached

   To be idle is to be inactive or not working at a job. The word is sometimes derogatory, but not always, since one may be relaxing temporarily or may be idle through necessity: pleasantly idle on a vacation; to be idle because one is unemployed or because supplies are lacking.

5. www.vocabulary.com › dictionary › idleIdle - Definition, Meaning & Synonyms | Vocabulary.com

   www.vocabulary.com › dictionary › idle

   Definitions of idle. adjective. not in action or at work. “an idle laborer” “ idle drifters” “the idle rich” “an idle mind” synonyms: bone-idle, bone-lazy. constitutionally lazy or idle. faineant, indolent, lazy, otiose, slothful, work-shy. disinclined to work or exertion. lackadaisical. idle or indolent especially in a dreamy way. leisured.

6. dictionary.cambridge.org › dictionary › learner-englishIDLE | meaning - Cambridge Learner's Dictionary

   dictionary.cambridge.org › dictionary › learner-english

   • Cached

   Learn the meaning of idle as an adjective and a verb, with synonyms and translations. Find out how to use idle in different contexts, such as not working, not serious, or lazy.

7. www.collinsdictionary.com › dictionary › englishIDLE definition and meaning | Collins English Dictionary

   www.collinsdictionary.com › dictionary › english

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   6 days ago · Learn the various meanings and uses of the word idle as an adjective, noun, verb, and adverb. Find synonyms, pronunciation, grammar, and examples of idle in different contexts.

8. www.oxfordlearnersdictionaries.com › definition › englishidle adjective - Definition, pictures, pronunciation and usage...

   www.oxfordlearnersdictionaries.com › definition › english

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   Learn the meaning, pronunciation and usage of the adjective idle, which can describe people, machines, factories or time. Find synonyms, idioms, collocations and word origin of idle.