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1. Dictionary

   idle

   /ˈʌɪdl/

   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 per cent 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: "the mill has been standing idle for eight years" Similar not in useout of usenot operatingnot workinginactiveout of actioninoperativenon-functioningout 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 (about)laze (around)lounge (about)lounge (around)loll (about)loll (around)loaf (about)loaf (around)slouch (about)slouch (around)go to seeddegeneratemoulderstagnateinformal:hang aroundhang aboutveg outmooch aboutmooch aroundslummockbum aroundbat aroundlollygaglay on one's oarsfritterwhilelazeloiterpassspenduseemployuse upoccupytake upfill upfill infillbeguileexpenddevotewastedissipatekill
   • ▪ move aimlessly or lazily: "Robert idled along the pavement" Similar saunterstrolldawdledriftpotteramblego/walk slowlyloitermaunderwanderstraggleinformal:moseytootlepootlemoochswan
   • ▪ take out of use or employment: North American "he will close the newspaper, idling 2,200 workers" Similar saunterstrolldawdledriftpotteramblego/walk slowlyloitermaunderwanderstraggleinformal:moseytootlepootlemoochswan
   • 2. (of an engine) run slowly while disconnected from a load or out of gear: "Nadine kept the engine idling" 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

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2. People also ask

   What does idling mean?

   • 1. To pass (time) without doing anything: idle the afternoon away. 2. To make or cause to be unemployed or inactive: layoffs that idled 1,000 factory workers; a plant that was idled by a strike. 3. To cause (a motor, for example) to idle. n. 1. A state of idling. Used of a motor vehicle: an engine running quietly at idle. 2.

   Idle - definition of idle by The Free Dictionary

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   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

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   Why do people idle a lot?

   • Trains stopped and idling near homes for hours at a time, although not blocking crossings, also are a routine occurrence, residents said. He has redistributed millions of acres deemed idle in a bid to boost food production and ease rural poverty. When we are idle, neuroscience is showing that our brains are most active.

   IDLE | definition in the Cambridge English Dictionary

   dictionary.cambridge.org/us/dictionary/english/idle

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   What does bone idle mean?

   • bone idle He's a very able student, he's just bone idle (= very lazy). He left the engine idling and ran into the store. The machines are standing idle because there are no spare parts. I will not stand idly by while my business is being destroyed. Let the engine idle for a minute before you put the car in gear.

   IDLE | definition in the Cambridge English Dictionary

   dictionary.cambridge.org/us/dictionary/english/idle

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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

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   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 business.

5. Videos

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

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6. www.vocabulary.com › dictionary › idleIdle - Definition, Meaning & Synonyms - Vocabulary.com

   www.vocabulary.com › dictionary › idle

   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.

7. www.thefreedictionary.com › idleIdle - definition of idle by The Free Dictionary

   www.thefreedictionary.com › idle

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   Idle means not working, inactive, or lazy. It can also mean not in use, operation, or effect. Find out the origin, usage, and examples of idle and its synonyms.

8. dictionary.cambridge.org › us › dictionaryIDLE | definition in the Cambridge English Dictionary

   dictionary.cambridge.org › us › dictionary

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   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, workplace, and speculation.

9. dictionary.cambridge.org › learner-english › idleMeaning of idle – Learner’s Dictionary - Cambridge Dictionary

   dictionary.cambridge.org › learner-english › idle

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   Idle can be an adjective or a verb with different meanings. As an adjective, it can mean not working, not serious, or lazy. As a verb, it can mean to run an engine slowly, to stop someone or something working, or to spend time doing nothing.

10. www.dictionary.com › browse › idle;)IDLE Definition & Meaning - Dictionary.com

    www.dictionary.com › browse › idle;)

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    Idle means not working or active, unemployed, doing nothing, or having no basis or reason. It can also be a verb meaning to waste time, loiter, or run a machine at low speed. See more meanings, synonyms, antonyms, and examples of idle.