adj., v., & n.
--adj. (emptier, emptiest)
1. containing nothing.
2 (of a house etc.) unoccupied or unfurnished.
3 (of a transport vehicle etc.) without a load, passengers, etc.
4 a meaningless, hollow, insincere (empty threats; an empty gesture). b without substance or purpose (an empty existence).
5 colloq. hungry.
6 (foll. by of) devoid, lacking.
--v. (-ies, -ied)
1. tr. a make empty; remove the contents of. b (foll. by of) deprive of certain contents (emptied the room of its chairs).
2 tr. (often foll. by into) transfer (the contents of a container).
3 intr. become empty.
4 intr. (usu. foll. by into) (of a river) discharge itself (into the sea etc.).
--n. (pl. -ies) colloq. a container (esp. a bottle) left empty of its contents.
Phrases and idioms:
empty-handed
1. bringing or taking nothing.
2 having achieved or obtained nothing. empty-headed foolish; lacking common sense. empty-nester US either of a couple whose children have grown up and left home. on an empty stomach see STOMACH.
Derivatives:
emptily adv. emptiness n.
Etymology: OE {aelig}mtig, {aelig}metig f. {aelig}metta leisure