Definition of Idle. Meaning of Idle. Synonyms of Idle

Here you will find one or more explanations in English for the word Idle. Also in the bottom left of the page several parts of wikipedia pages related to the word Idle and, of course, Idle synonyms and on the right images related to the word Idle.

Definition of Idle

Idle
Idle I"dle, a. [Compar. Idler; superl. Idlest.] [OE. idel, AS. [=i]del vain, empty, useless; akin to OS. [=i]dal, D. ijdel, OHG. [=i]tal vain, empty, mere, G. eitel, Dan. & Sw. idel mere, pure, and prob. to Gr. ? clear, pure, ? to burn. Cf. Ether.] 1. Of no account; useless; vain; trifling; unprofitable; thoughtless; silly; barren. ``Deserts idle.' --Shak. Every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment. --Matt. xii. 36. Down their idle weapons dropped. --Milton. This idle story became important. --Macaulay. 2. Not called into active service; not turned to appropriate use; unemployed; as, idle hours. The idle spear and shield were high uphing. --Milton. 3. Not employed; unoccupied with business; inactive; doing nothing; as, idle workmen. Why stand ye here all the day idle? --Matt. xx. 6. 4. Given rest and ease; averse to labor or employment; lazy; slothful; as, an idle fellow. 5. Light-headed; foolish. [Obs.] --Ford. Idle pulley (Mach.), a pulley that rests upon a belt to tighten it; a pulley that only guides a belt and is not used to transmit power. Idle wheel (Mach.), a gear wheel placed between two others, to transfer motion from one to the other without changing the direction of revolution. In idle, in vain. [Obs.] ``God saith, thou shalt not take the name of thy Lord God in idle.' --Chaucer. Syn: Unoccupied; unemployed; vacant; inactive; indolent; sluggish; slothful; useless; ineffectual; futile; frivolous; vain; trifling; unprofitable; unimportant. Usage: Idle, Indolent, Lazy. A propensity to inaction is expressed by each of these words; they differ in the cause and degree of this characteristic. Indolent denotes an habitual love to ease, a settled dislike of movement or effort; idle is opposed to busy, and denotes a dislike of continuous exertion. Lazy is a stronger and more contemptuous term than indolent.
Idle
Idle I"dle, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Idled; p. pr. & vb. n. Idling.] To lose or spend time in inaction, or without being employed in business. --Shak.
Idle
Idle I"dle, v. t. To spend in idleness; to waste; to consume; -- often followed by away; as, to idle away an hour a day.

Meaning of Idle from wikipedia

- up idle in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. Idle generally refers to idleness, a lack of motion or energy. Idle or idling, may also refer to: Idle (engine)...
- IDLE (short for Integrated Development and Learning Environment) is an integrated development environment for Python, which has been bundled with the default...
- Eric Idle (born 29 March 1943) is an English actor, comedian, musician, playwright, screenwriter and songwriter. He was a member of the British comedy...
- Look up idler in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. Idler refers to someone or something idle: An idle game A slacker, a person who habitually avoids work...
- Idle hands may refer to: Look up idle hands are the Devil's tools in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. Idle Hands, a 1999 American teen horror comedy film...
- Idleness is a lack of motion or energy. In describing a person, idle suggests having no labor: "idly p****ing the day". In physics, an idle machine exerts...
- Idles are an English rock band formed in Bristol in 2009. The band consists of Adam Devonshire (b****), Joe Talbot (vocals), Mark Bowen (guitar), Lee Kiernan...
- Idle Hands is a 1999 American teen horror comedy film directed by Rodman Flender, written by Terri Hughes and Ron Milbauer, and starring Devon Sawa, Seth...
- An incremental game (also known as an idle game, clicker game, or tap game) is a video game genre centered on minimal player interaction, where simple...
- American Idol is an American singing competition television series created by Simon Fuller, produced by Fremantle North America and 19 Entertainment, and...