Search Result for "idle": 
Wordnet 3.0

NOUN (1)

1. the state of an engine or other mechanism that is idling;
- Example: "the car engine was running at idle"


VERB (2)

1. run disconnected or idle;
- Example: "the engine is idling"
[syn: idle, tick over]

2. be idle; exist in a changeless situation;
- Example: "The old man sat and stagnated on his porch"
- Example: "He slugged in bed all morning"
[syn: idle, laze, slug, stagnate]


ADJECTIVE (7)

1. not in action or at work;
- Example: "an idle laborer"
- Example: "idle drifters"
- Example: "the idle rich"
- Example: "an idle mind"

2. without a basis in reason or fact;
- Example: "baseless gossip"
- Example: "the allegations proved groundless"
- Example: "idle fears"
- Example: "unfounded suspicions"
- Example: "unwarranted jealousy"
[syn: baseless, groundless, idle, unfounded, unwarranted, wild]

3. not in active use;
- Example: "the machinery sat idle during the strike"
- Example: "idle hands"
[syn: idle, unused]

4. silly or trivial;
- Example: "idle pleasure"
- Example: "light banter"
- Example: "light idle chatter"
[syn: idle, light]

5. lacking a sense of restraint or responsibility;
- Example: "idle talk"
- Example: "a loose tongue"
[syn: idle, loose]

6. not yielding a return;
- Example: "dead capital"
- Example: "idle funds"
[syn: dead, idle]

7. not having a job;
- Example: "idle carpenters"
- Example: "jobless transients"
- Example: "many people in the area were out of work"
[syn: idle, jobless, out of work]



The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:

Idle \I"dle\, a. [Compar. Idler; superl. Idlest.] [OE. idel,
   AS. [imac]del vain, empty, useless; akin to OS. [imac]dal, D.
   ijdel, OHG. [imac]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.
      [1913 Webster]

            Every idle word that men shall speak, they shall
            give account thereof in the day of judgment. --Matt.
                                                  xii. 36.
      [1913 Webster]

            Down their idle weapons dropped.      --Milton.
      [1913 Webster]

            This idle story became important.     --Macaulay.
      [1913 Webster]

   2. Not called into active service; not turned to appropriate
      use; unemployed; as, idle hours.
      [1913 Webster]

            The idle spear and shield were high uphing.
                                                  --Milton.
      [1913 Webster]

   3. Not employed; unoccupied with business; inactive; doing
      nothing; as, idle workmen.
      [1913 Webster]

            Why stand ye here all the day idle?   --Matt. xx. 6.
      [1913 Webster]

   4. Given rest and ease; averse to labor or employment; lazy;
      slothful; as, an idle fellow.
      [1913 Webster]

   5. Light-headed; foolish. [Obs.] --Ford.
      [1913 Webster]

   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.
          [1913 Webster]


The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:

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.
   [1913 Webster]


The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:

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.
   [1913 Webster]


WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006):

idle
    adj 1: not in action or at work; "an idle laborer"; "idle
           drifters"; "the idle rich"; "an idle mind" [ant: busy]
    2: without a basis in reason or fact; "baseless gossip"; "the
       allegations proved groundless"; "idle fears"; "unfounded
       suspicions"; "unwarranted jealousy" [syn: baseless,
       groundless, idle, unfounded, unwarranted, wild]
    3: not in active use; "the machinery sat idle during the
       strike"; "idle hands" [syn: idle, unused]
    4: silly or trivial; "idle pleasure"; "light banter"; "light
       idle chatter" [syn: idle, light]
    5: lacking a sense of restraint or responsibility; "idle talk";
       "a loose tongue" [syn: idle, loose]
    6: not yielding a return; "dead capital"; "idle funds" [syn:
       dead, idle]
    7: not having a job; "idle carpenters"; "jobless transients";
       "many people in the area were out of work" [syn: idle,
       jobless, out of work]
    n 1: the state of an engine or other mechanism that is idling;
         "the car engine was running at idle"
    v 1: run disconnected or idle; "the engine is idling" [syn:
         idle, tick over] [ant: run]
    2: be idle; exist in a changeless situation; "The old man sat
       and stagnated on his porch"; "He slugged in bed all morning"
       [syn: idle, laze, slug, stagnate] [ant: work]