| English Dictionary |
IDLE
| Pronunciation (US): |  | (GB): | |
| IPA (US): |  |
Dictionary entry overview: What does idle mean?
• IDLE (noun)
The noun IDLE has 1 sense:
1. the state of an engine or other mechanism that is idling
Familiarity information: IDLE used as a noun is very rare.
• IDLE (adjective)
The adjective IDLE has 7 senses:
1. not in action or at work
2. without a basis in reason or fact
3. not in active use
4. silly or trivial
5. lacking a sense of restraint or responsibility
6. not yielding a return
7. not having a job
Familiarity information: IDLE used as an adjective is common.
• IDLE (verb)
The verb IDLE has 2 senses:
1. run disconnected or idle
2. be idle; exist in a changeless situation
Familiarity information: IDLE used as a verb is rare.
Dictionary entry details
Sense 1
Meaning:
The state of an engine or other mechanism that is idling
Classified under:
Nouns denoting stable states of affairs
Context example:
the car engine was running at idle
Hypernyms ("idle" is a kind of...):
operation (the state of being in effect or being operative)
| Declension: comparative and superlative |
Superlative: idlest
Sense 1
Meaning:
Not in action or at work
Context example:
an idle mind
Similar:
lackadaisical (idle or indolent especially in a dreamy way)
unengaged (not busy or occupied; free)
leisured (free from duties or responsibilities)
faineant; indolent; lazy; otiose; slothful; work-shy (disinclined to work or exertion)
bone-idle; bone-lazy (constitutionally lazy or idle)
Also:
ineffective; ineffectual; uneffective (not producing an intended effect)
unemployed (not engaged in a gainful occupation)
Antonym:
busy (actively or fully engaged or occupied)
Derivation:
idleness (the trait of being idle out of a reluctance to work)
Sense 2
Meaning:
Without a basis in reason or fact
Synonyms:
baseless; groundless; idle; unfounded; unwarranted; wild
Context example:
unwarranted jealousy
Similar:
unsupported (not sustained or maintained by nonmaterial aid)
Derivation:
idleness (the quality of lacking substance or value)
Sense 3
Meaning:
Not in active use
Synonyms:
idle; unused
Context example:
idle hands
Similar:
inactive (lacking activity; lying idle or unused)
Derivation:
idleness (having no employment)
Sense 4
Meaning:
Silly or trivial
Synonyms:
idle; light
Context example:
light idle chatter
Similar:
frivolous (not serious in content or attitude or behavior)
Sense 5
Meaning:
Lacking a sense of restraint or responsibility
Synonyms:
idle; loose
Context example:
a loose tongue
Similar:
irresponsible (showing lack of care for consequences)
Sense 6
Meaning:
Not yielding a return
Synonyms:
dead; idle
Context example:
idle funds
Similar:
unprofitable (producing little or no profit or gain)
Sense 7
Meaning:
Not having a job
Synonyms:
idle; jobless; out of work
Context example:
many people in the area were out of work
Similar:
unemployed (not engaged in a gainful occupation)
Derivation:
idleness (having no employment)
| Conjugation: |
... he / she / it idles Past simple: idled
Past participle: idled
-ing form: idling
Sense 1
Meaning:
Run disconnected or idle
Classified under:
Verbs of touching, hitting, tying, digging
Synonyms:
idle; tick over
Context example:
the engine is idling
Sentence frame:
Something ----s
Antonym:
run (be operating, running or functioning)
Sense 2
Meaning:
Be idle; exist in a changeless situation
Classified under:
Verbs of political and social activities and events
Synonyms:
Context example:
He slugged in bed all morning
Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "idle"):
moon; moon around; moon on (be idle in a listless or dreamy way)
ride the bench; warm the bench (be out of the game)
daydream; moon (have dreamlike musings or fantasies while awake)
arse about; arse around; bum; bum about; bum around; frig around; fuck off; loaf; loll; loll around; lounge about; lounge around; waste one's time (be lazy or idle)
lie about; lie around (hang around idly)
Sentence frame:
Somebody ----s
Antonym:
work (exert oneself by doing mental or physical work for a purpose or out of necessity)
Derivation:
idler (person who does no work)
idling (having no employment)
Context examples
I fear that he will become an idler unless we yield the point and permit him to enter on the profession which he has selected.
(Frankenstein, by Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley)
So after idling away an hour, they drove home again, and having paid his respects to Mrs. Carrol, Laurie left them, promising to return in the evening.
(Little Women, by Louisa May Alcott)
He became cunning; he had idle time in which to devote himself to thoughts of trickery.
(White Fang, by Jack London)
I could wish it done as soon as it can be done, Wickfield, said Doctor Strong, for Jack Maldon is needy, and idle; and of those two bad things, worse things sometimes come.
(David Copperfield, by Charles Dickens)
Then he fell upon them with the stick and beat them one after another, crying, “There, you idle vagabonds, you have got what you deserve; are you satisfied now!”
(Fairy Tales, by The Brothers Grimm)
You know with what idle designs I began; but this is the end of them.
(Mansfield Park, by Jane Austen)
The schooner trembled to her keel under the reverse, but next moment, the other sails still drawing, the jib flapped back again and hung idle.
(Treasure Island, by Robert Louis Stevenson)
In the meantime his life remained run down, planless, and empty and idle.
(Martin Eden, by Jack London)
Mina and I fear to be idle, so we have been over all the diaries again and again.
(Dracula, by Bram Stoker)
Already-queued orders won't leave idle capacity for some years, Maróth said, and paying back this loan seems realistic.
(Hungarian state-owned enterprise acquires Hirtenberger Defence Group, Wikinews)
| Learn English with... Proverbs |
"A rocky vineyard does not need a prayer, but a pick ax." (Native American proverb, Navajo)
"People follow the ways of their kings." (Arabic proverb)
"Heaven helps those who help themselves." (Corsican proverb)