idle meaning and definition

IDLE noun

Definition of idle (noun)

1. the state of an engine or other mechanism that is idling
   • "the car engine was running at idle"

IDLE verb

Definition of idle (verb)

1. run disconnected or idle
   • "the engine is idling"
   • synonyms: tick over
   • antonym: run
2. be idle; exist in a changeless situation
   • "The old man sat and stagnated on his porch"; "He slugged in bed all morning"
   • synonyms: laze, slug, stagnate
   • antonym: work

IDLE adjective

Definition of idle (adjective)

1. not in action or at work
   • "an idle laborer"; "idle drifters"; "the idle rich"; "an idle mind"
   • antonym: busy
2. without a basis in reason or fact
   • "baseless gossip"; "the allegations proved groundless"; "idle fears"; "unfounded suspicions"; "unwarranted jealousy"
   • synonyms: baseless, groundless, unfounded, unwarranted, wild
3. not in active use
   • "the machinery sat idle during the strike"; "idle hands"
   • synonyms: unused
4. silly or trivial
   • "idle pleasure"; "light banter"; "light idle chatter"
   • synonyms: light
5. lacking a sense of restraint or responsibility
   • "idle talk"; "a loose tongue"
   • synonyms: loose
6. not yielding a return
   • "dead capital"; "idle funds"
   • synonyms: dead
7. not having a job
   • "idle carpenters"; "jobless transients"; "many people in the area were out of work"
   • synonyms: jobless, out of work