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   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

   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

   1. : not occupied or employed: such as. a. : having no employment : inactive. idle workers. b. : not turned to normal or appropriate use. idle farmland. c. : not scheduled to compete. the team will be idle tomorrow. 2. : lacking worth or basis : vain. idle chatter. idle pleasure.

4. 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.

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

   www.collinsdictionary.com › dictionary › english

   • Cached

   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.

6. www.dictionary.com › browse › idleIDLE 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.thefreedictionary.com › idleIdle - definition of idle by The Free Dictionary

   www.thefreedictionary.com › idle

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   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.

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

   www.oxfordlearnersdictionaries.com › definition › english

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   [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.

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

10. www.ldoceonline.com › dictionary › idleidle | meaning of idle in Longman Dictionary of Contemporary...

    www.ldoceonline.com › dictionary › idle

    • Cached

    idle meaning, definition, what is idle: not working or producing anything: Learn more.

11. www.oxfordlearnersdictionaries.com › definition › englishidle verb - Definition, pictures, pronunciation and usage notes...

    www.oxfordlearnersdictionaries.com › definition › english

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    Definition of idle verb in Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary. Meaning, pronunciation, picture, example sentences, grammar, usage notes, synonyms and more.