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- Dictionaryi·dle/ˈīd(ə)l/
adjective
- 1. (of a person) avoiding work; lazy: "idle students" Similar Opposite
- 2. without purpose or effect; pointless: "he did not want to waste valuable time in idle chatter" Similar Opposite
verb
- 1. spend time doing nothing: "four men were idling outside the shop" Similar
- 2. (of an engine) run slowly while disconnected from a load or out of gear: "the car is noisily idling in the street" Similar
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The meaning of IDLE is not occupied or employed. How to use idle in a sentence. Synonym Discussion of Idle.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Idle definition: Being a period of time in which there is little or no activity.
Definition of idle verb in Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary. Meaning, pronunciation, picture, example sentences, grammar, usage notes, synonyms and more.
[transitive] idle somebody/something to close a factory, etc. or stop providing work for the workers, especially temporarily The strikes have idled nearly 4 000 workers. See idle in the Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary. Check pronunciation: idle. Definition of idle verb in Oxford Advanced American Dictionary.
