Yahoo Web Search

Search results

1. Dictionary

   I·dle

   /ˈīd(ə)l/

   

   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 percent 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: "assembly lines standing idle for lack of spare parts" Similar not in useout of usenot operatingnot workinginactiveout of actioninoperativenonfunctioningout 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 (around)lounge (around)loll (around)loaf (around)slouch (around)go to seeddegeneratemolderstagnateinformal:hang aroundveg outmooch aboutmooch aroundslummockbum aroundbat aroundlollygaglay on one's oarsfritterwhilelazeloiterpassspenduseemployuse upoccupytake upfill upfill infillbeguileexpenddevotewastedissipatekill
   • ▪ move aimlessly or lazily: "Cal idled past MetroHealth at a stately pace" Similar saunterstrolldawdledriftputteramblego/walk slowlyloitermaunderwanderstraggleinformal:moseytootlepootlemoochswan
   • ▪ take out of use or employment: North American "he will close the newspaper, idling 2,200 workers" Similar saunterstrolldawdledriftputteramblego/walk slowlyloitermaunderwanderstraggleinformal:moseytootlepootlemoochswan
   • 2. (of an engine) run slowly while disconnected from a load or out of gear: "the car is noisily idling in the street" 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

   • I

     1

   • D

     2

   • L

     1

   • E

     1

   Powered by Oxford Languages

   More Definitions, Word Origin & ScrabbleShow less

2. People also ask

   What does idle mean?

   • Get a quick, free translation! 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.

   IDLE | English meaning - Cambridge Dictionary

   dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/english/idle

   See all results for this question

   What does it mean if a system is idle?

   • If you say that it is idle to do something, you mean that it is not worth doing it, because it will not achieve anything. It would be idle to pretend the system is perfect. You refer to an idle threat or boast when you do not think the person making it will or can do what they say. It was more of an idle threat than anything.

   IDLE definition and meaning | Collins English Dictionary

   www.collinsdictionary.com/dictionary/english/idle

   See all results for this question

   What does idling mean?

   • to pass time doing nothing. to idle along the avenue. (of a machine, engine, or mechanism) to operate at a low speed, disengaged from the load. , i·dled, i·dling. to idle away the afternoon. The strike idled many workers. I waited in the car while idling the engine. the state or quality of being idle. a cold engine that stalls at idle.

   IDLE Definition & Meaning | Dictionary.com

   www.dictionary.com/browse/idle

   See all results for this question

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 › 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.

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. Videos

   • 

     13:04

     youtube.com

     Introduction to Python IDLE | IDLE Installation and Configuration Tutorial | Edureka

     Aug 23, 2019

     300.2K Views

   • 

     2:21

     youtube.com

     Idle | Definition of idle

     May 28, 2019

     9.9K Views

   • 

     0:33

     youtube.com

     Idle Meaning

     Apr 18, 2015

     40.1K Views

   View all

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

   www.dictionary.com › browse › idle

   • Cached

   not in use or operation; not kept busy: idle machinery. habitually doing nothing or avoiding work; lazy. of no real worth, importance, or significance: idle talk. Synonyms: trifling, trivial, worthless. Antonyms: worthwhile, important. having no basis or reason; baseless; groundless: idle fears.

8. dictionary.cambridge.org › learner-english › idleIDLE | meaning - Cambridge Learner's Dictionary

   dictionary.cambridge.org › learner-english › idle

   • 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.

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

   www.collinsdictionary.com › dictionary › english

   • Cached

   4 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.

10. www.oxfordlearnersdictionaries.com › definitionidle adjective - Definition, pictures, pronunciation and ...

    www.oxfordlearnersdictionaries.com › definition

    • Cached

    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.