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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

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   IDLE definition: 1. not working or being used: 2. An idle moment or period of time is one in which there is no work…. Learn more.

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

   www.merriam-webster.com › dictionary › idle

   • Cached

   The meaning of IDLE is not occupied or employed. How to use idle in a sentence. Synonym Discussion of Idle.

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

   www.thefreedictionary.com › idle

   • Cached

   1. To pass time without being engaged in purposeful activity: "The girls idled all day long, sending their tinkling laughter flowing up and down the street" (Alai). 2. To move slowly or without purpose: "I drove past the workshop ... I idled along the driveway past the pole fence ... to Tyhee Road" (Tom Spanbauer). 3.

5. 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.

6. www.dictionary.com › browse › idle;)IDLE Definition & Meaning | Dictionary.com

   www.dictionary.com › browse › idle;)

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   Idle definition: not working or active; unemployed; doing nothing. See examples of IDLE used in a sentence.

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

   www.collinsdictionary.com › dictionary › english

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   idle, indolent, lazy, slothful apply to a person who is not active. 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.

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

   dictionary.cambridge.org › dictionary › learner-english

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   IDLE definition: 1. not working or being used: 2. not serious or having no real purpose: 3. lazy and not willing…. Learn more.

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

   www.oxfordlearnersdictionaries.com › definition › english

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   He never stayed idle for long. [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.

10. www.collinsdictionary.com › dictionary › english-wordIDLE - Find out everything about this English word | Collins

    www.collinsdictionary.com › dictionary › english-word

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    Definitions of 'idle' 1. If people who were working are idle, they have no jobs or work. [...] 2. If machines or factories are idle, they are not working or being used. [...] 3. If you say that someone is idle, you disapprove of them because they are not doing anything and you think they should be. [disapproval] [...] More.

11. www.yourdictionary.com › idleIdle Definition & Meaning - YourDictionary

    www.yourdictionary.com › idle

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    Idle definition: Being a period of time in which there is little or no activity.