IDLE
| Pronunciation (US): |  |
Dictionary entry overview: What does idle mean?
• IDLE (noun)
The noun IDLE has 1 sense:
1. the state of an engine or other mechanism that is idling
Familiarity information: IDLE used as a noun is very rare.
• IDLE (adjective)
The adjective IDLE has 7 senses:
1. not in action or at work
2. without a basis in reason or fact
3. not in active use
4. silly or trivial
5. lacking a sense of restraint or responsibility
6. not yielding a return
7. not having a job
Familiarity information: IDLE used as an adjective is common.
• IDLE (verb)
The verb IDLE has 2 senses:
1. run disconnected or idle
2. be idle; exist in a changeless situation
Familiarity information: IDLE used as a verb is rare.
Dictionary entry details
• IDLE (noun)
Meaning:
The state of an engine or other mechanism that is idling
Classified under:
Nouns denoting stable states of affairs
Context example:
the car engine was running at idle
Hypernyms ("idle" is a kind of...):
operation (the state of being in effect or being operative)
• IDLE (adjective)
Meaning:
Not in action or at work
Context examples:
an idle laborer / idle drifters / the idle rich / an idle mind
Similar:
bone-idle; bone-lazy (constitutionally lazy or idle)
faineant; indolent; lazy; otiose; slothful; work-shy (disinclined to work or exertion)
lackadaisical (idle or indolent especially in a dreamy way)
leisured (free from duties or responsibilities)
unengaged (not busy or occupied; free)
Also:
unemployed (not engaged in a gainful occupation)
ineffective; ineffectual; uneffective (not producing an intended effect)
Antonym:
busy (actively or fully engaged or occupied)
Meaning:
Without a basis in reason or fact
Synonyms:
baseless; groundless; unfounded; idle; unwarranted; wild
Context examples:
baseless gossip / the allegations proved groundless / idle fears / unfounded suspicions / unwarranted jealousy
Similar:
unsupported (not sustained or maintained by nonmaterial aid)
Meaning:
Not in active use
Synonyms:
idle; unused
Context examples:
the machinery sat idle during the strike / idle hands
Similar:
inactive (lacking activity; lying idle or unused)
Meaning:
Silly or trivial
Synonyms:
idle; light
Context examples:
idle pleasure / light banter / light idle chatter
Similar:
frivolous (not serious in content or attitude or behavior)
Meaning:
Lacking a sense of restraint or responsibility
Synonyms:
idle; loose
Context examples:
idle talk / a loose tongue
Similar:
irresponsible (showing lack of care for consequences)
Meaning:
Not yielding a return
Synonyms:
idle; dead
Context examples:
dead capital / idle funds
Similar:
unprofitable (producing little or no profit or gain)
Meaning:
Not having a job
Synonyms:
out of work; jobless; idle
Context examples:
idle carpenters / jobless transients / many people in the area were out of work
Similar:
unemployed (not engaged in a gainful occupation)
• IDLE (verb)
Meaning:
Run disconnected or idle
Classified under:
Verbs of touching, hitting, tying, digging
Synonyms:
idle; tick over
Context example:
the engine is idling
Sentence frame:
Something ----s
Antonym:
run (be operating, running or functioning)
Meaning:
Be idle; exist in a changeless situation
Classified under:
Verbs of political and social activities and events
Synonyms:
laze; slug; idle; stagnate
Context examples:
The old man sat and stagnated on his porch / He slugged in bed all morning
Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "idle"):
moon; moon around; moon on (be idle in a listless or dreamy way)
ride the bench; warm the bench (be out of the game)
daydream; moon (have dreamlike musings or fantasies while awake)
arse about; arse around; bum; bum about; bum around; frig around; fuck off; loaf; loll; loll around; lounge about; lounge around; waste one's time (be lazy or idle)
lie about; lie around (hang around idly)
Sentence frame:
Somebody ----s
Antonym:
work (exert oneself by doing mental or physical work for a purpose or out of necessity)
