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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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   More definitions, origin and scrabble points

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 business.

   • 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:...

   • Simplified

     IDLE translate: 不工作的, 闲置的, 无所事事的，空闲的, 无工作的，失业的, 无目的的, 无目的的,...

   • Traditional

     IDLE translate: 不工作的, 閒置的, 無所事事的，空閒的, 無工作的，失業的, 無目的的, 無目的的,...

   • The Devil Finds Work for Idle Hands

     THE DEVIL FINDS WORK FOR IDLE HANDS definition: 1. said to...

   • Znaczenie Idle, Definicja W Cambridge English Dictionary

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

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. dictionary.cambridge.org › dictionary › learner-englishMeaning of idle – Learner’s Dictionary - Cambridge Dictionary

   dictionary.cambridge.org › dictionary › learner-english

   • Cached

   Idle can be an adjective or a verb with different meanings. As an adjective, it can mean not working, not serious, or lazy. As a verb, it can mean to run an engine slowly, to stop someone or something working, or to spend time doing nothing.

5. www.thefreedictionary.com › idleIdle - definition of idle by The Free Dictionary

   www.thefreedictionary.com › idle

   • Cached

   Idle means not working, inactive, or lazy. It can also mean not in use, operation, or effect. Find out the origin, usage, and examples of idle and its synonyms.

6. dictionary.cambridge.org › us › dictionaryIDLE | definition in the Cambridge English Dictionary

   dictionary.cambridge.org › us › dictionary

   • 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, workplace, and speculation.

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

   www.vocabulary.com › dictionary › idle

   Something idle is not active. If your car is idling, it's running but not moving. If someone calls you idle, it either means they think you don't have enough to do or that you're just plain lazy.

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

   www.oxfordlearnersdictionaries.com › definition › english

   • Cached

   [usually before noun] with no particular purpose or effect. idle chatter/curiosity. It was just an idle threat (= not serious). It is idle to pretend that their marriage is a success. [usually before noun] (of time) not spent doing work or something particular. In idle moments, he carved wooden figures. Word Origin. Idioms.