idle
i·dle / ˈīdl/ • adj. (i·dler, i·dlest) 1. (esp. of a machine or factory) not active or in use: assembly lines standing idle for lack of spare parts. ∎ (of a person) not working; unemployed. ∎ (of a person) avoiding work; lazy. ∎ (of time) characterized by inaction or absence of significant activity: at no time in the day must there be an idle moment. ∎ (of money) held in cash or in accounts paying no interest.2. without purpose or effect; pointless: he did not want to waste valuable time in idle chatter. ∎ (esp. of a threat or boast) without foundation: I knew Ellen did not make idle threats.• v. [intr.] (of a person) spend time doing nothing; be idle: four men were idling outside the shop. ∎ [intr.] move aimlessly or lazily: Cal idled past MetroHealth at a stately pace. ∎ (of an engine) run slowly while disconnected from a load or out of gear: the car is noisily idling in the street. ∎ [tr.] cause (an engine) to idle. ∎ [tr.] take out of use or employment: he will close the newspaper, idling 2,200 workers.PHRASAL VERBS: idle something away spend one's time doing nothing or very little.DERIVATIVES: i·dle·ness n.
