idle

²idle

verb

idledidling\ˈīd-liŋ, ˈī-d^əl-iŋ\

Definition of IDLE

intransitive verb

1

a : to spend time in idleness b : to move idly

2

: to run at low power and often disconnected usually so that power is not used for useful work <the engine is idling>

transitive verb

1

: to pass in idleness

2

: to make idle <workers idled by a strike>

3

: to cause to idle

— idler \ˈīd-lər, ˈī-d^əl-ər\ noun

Examples of IDLE

1. She left the engine idling for a few seconds before she turned it off.
2. The cars idled in traffic.
3. A group of boys idled in the doorway.
4. The factory closed, idling several hundred workers.
5. Thousands of workers have been idled by the bad economy.
6. The factory has been idled by the strike.

First Known Use of IDLE

1592

Related to IDLE

Synonyms: bum, chill, dally, dawdle, dillydally, drone, footle, goof (off), hack (around), hang (around or out), hang about [British], kick around, kick back, laze, lazy, loaf, loll, lounge, veg out, kill time, twiddle one's thumbs

Related Words: fiddle (around), fool, mess, monkey, muck, piddle, play, potter (around), putter (around), trifle; doze, estivate (also aestivate), hibernate; lag, linger, loiter, poke, relax, rest, tarry; amble, mosey, saunter, stroll, swan; furlough, goldbrick, malinger, truant

Near Antonyms: drudge, grind, grub, hump, hustle, labor, moil, peg, plod, plow, plug, slave, sweat, toil, travail, work; apply, buckle (down); exert, put out

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Synonym Discussion of IDLE

idle, loaf, lounge, loll, laze mean to spend time doing nothing. idle may be used in reference to persons that move lazily or without purpose <idled the day away>. loaf suggests either resting or wandering about as though there were nothing to do <she does her work and then loafs the rest of the day>. lounge , though occasionally used as equal to idle or loaf, typically conveys an additional implication of resting or reclining against a support or of physical comfort and ease in relaxation <he lounged against the wall>. loll also carries an implication of a posture similar to that of lounge, but places greater stress upon an indolent or relaxed attitude <lolling on the couch>. laze usually implies the relaxation of a busy person enjoying a vacation or moments of leisure <lazed about between appointments>.

Rhymes with IDLE

bridal, bridle, sidle