Idled — 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
Idling — 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
idle — I. adjective (idler; idlest) Etymology: Middle English idel, from Old English īdel; akin to Old High German ītal worthless Date: before 12th century 1. lacking worth or basis ; vain < idle chatter > < idle pleasure > … New Collegiate Dictionary
idle — idleness, n. idly, adv. /uyd l/, adj., idler, idlest, v. idled, idling, n. adj. 1. not working or active; unemployed; doing nothing: idle workers. 2. not spent or filled with activity: idle hours. 3. not in use or operation; not kept busy: idle… … Universalium
idle — [īd′ l] adj. idler, idlest [ME idel < OE, empty, akin to Ger eitel, vain, empty < ? IE base * ai dh, to burn, shine: basic sense, either “only apparent, seeming” or “burned out”] 1. a) having no value, use, or significance; worthless;… … English World dictionary
idle — {{11}}idle (adj.) O.E. idel empty, void; vain; worthless, useless; not employed, common West Germanic (Cf. O.S. idal, O.Fris. idel empty, worthless, O.Du. idil, O.H.G. ital, Ger. eitel vain, useless, mere, pure ), of unknown origin. Idle threats… … Etymology dictionary
idle — /ˈaɪdl / (say uydl) adjective (idler, idlest) 1. unemployed, or doing nothing: idle workers. 2. unoccupied, as time: idle hours. 3. not kept busy or in use or operation: idle machinery. 4. habitually doing nothing or avoiding work. 5. of no real… …
idle — [[t]a͟ɪd(ə)l[/t]] idles, idling, idled 1) ADJ: v link ADJ If people who were working are idle, they have no jobs or work. Employees have been idle almost a month because of shortages. Ant: busy 2) ADJ: v link ADJ If machines or factories are idle … English dictionary
idle — 01. My son has been [idle] for weeks. He really needs to find himself a summer job. 02. Our city s buses are sitting [idle] today due to a strike by maintenance workers. 03. The city s road crew has been [idled] by poor weather. 04. The factories … Grammatical examples in English
idle — I UK [ˈaɪd(ə)l] / US adjective Word forms idle : adjective idle comparative idler superlative idlest 1) a) machines or factories that are idle are not being used The extra power stations are idle when demand is lower. stand/lie/sit idle: Valuable … English dictionary
