Idle

Pronunciation

• enPR: īʹd(É™)l, IPA: /ˈaɪd(É™)l/
• Rhymes: -aɪdÉ™l
• Homophones: idol, idyll, idyl US pronunciation

Origin

Old English Ä«del, from West *Ä«dla-. Cognate with Dutch ijdel ("vain"), German eitel ("bare, worthless").

Full definition of idle

Adjective

1. (obsolete) Empty, vacant.
2. Not turned to appropriate use; not occupied.
   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.
   idle workmen
• 1879, Richard Jefferies, The Amateur Poacher Chapter 1, 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.
4. Averse to work, labor or employment; lazy; slothful.
   an idle fellow
• 1907, w, The Younger Set Chapter 6, “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, … !”
5. Of no importance; useless; worthless; vain; trifling; thoughtless; silly.
   an idle story;  idle talk;  idle rumor
6. (obsolete) Light-headed; foolish.

Derived terms

• idle hands are the devil's workshop
• idle pulley
• idle wheel

Synonyms

Verb

1. (transitive) To spend in idleness; to waste; to consume.
2. (intransitive) To lose or spend time doing nothing, or without being employed in business.to idle in an IRC channel
• 1939, Joan Evans, Chateaubriand (page 32)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. (intransitive) Of an engine: to run at a slow speed, or out of gear; to tick over.

Related terms

• idler

Anagrams

• deli
• diel
• lied