idle

UK /ˈaɪd(ə)l/ US /ˈaɪd(ə)l/
name 6adj 5verb 4noun 4

Definitions

adj

1

Empty, vacant.

2

Not being used appropriately; not occupied; (of time) with no, no important, or not much activity.

idle hours

My computer hibernates after it has been idle for 30 minutes.

3

Not engaged in any occupation or employment; unemployed; inactive; doing nothing in particular.

idle workmen

Molly the dairymaid came a little way from the rickyard, and said she would pluck the pigeon that very night after work. She was always ready to do anything for us boys; and we could never quite make out why they scolded her so for an idle hussy indoors. It seemed so unjust. Looking back, I recollect she had very beautiful brown eyes.

4

Averse to work, labor or employment; lazy; slothful.

an idle fellow

“I don't mean all of your friends—only a small proportion—which, however, connects your circle with that deadly, idle, brainless bunch—the insolent chatterers at the opera, the gorged dowagers, the worn-out, passionless men, the enervated matrons of the summer capital,[…]!”

5

Of no importance; useless; worthless; vain; trifling; thoughtless; silly.

an idle story;  idle talk;  idle rumor

verb

1

To spend in idleness; to waste; to consume.

2

To lose or spend time doing nothing, or without being employed in business.

to idle in an IRC channel

He had already heard of the young man's projected journey — evidently the Comte de Combourg had written many letters while his son idled at St. Malo […]

3

Of an engine: to run at a slow speed, or out of gear; to tick over.

High levels of all pollutants were found during time idling in stations.

4

To cause (an engine) to idle(3)

The driver idled his engine until the car finally stalled.

noun

1

The state of idling, of being idle.

2

The lowest selectable thrust or power setting of an engine.

a lumpy idle

A slight valve tap was audible at idle but was not noticeable otherwise.

3

An idle animation.

4

An idle game.

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