(~s, idling, ~d)
1.
If people who were working are ~, they have no jobs or work.
Employees have been ~ almost a month because of shortages.
ADJ: v-link ADJ
2.
If machines or factories are ~, they are not working or being used.
Now the machine is lying ~.
ADJ: v-link ADJ
3.
If you say that someone is ~, you disapprove of them because they are not doing anything and you think they should be.
...~ bureaucrats who spent the day reading newspapers...
ADJ disapproval
~ness
Idleness is a very bad thing for human nature.
N-UNCOUNT
idly
We were not idly sitting around.
ADV: ADV with v
4.
Idle is used to describe something that you do for no particular reason, often because you have nothing better to do.
Brian kept up the ~ chatter for another five minutes.
ADJ: ADJ n
idly
We talked idly about magazines and baseball...
ADV: ADV with v, ADV adj
5.
You refer to an ~ threat or boast when you do not think the person making it will or can do what they say.
It was more of an ~ threat than anything...
= empty
ADJ: ADJ n
6.
To ~ a factory or other place of work means to close it down because there is no work to do or because the workers are on strike. (AM BUSINESS; in BRIT, usually use shut down )
...~d assembly plants.
VERB: V-ed, also V n
7.
To ~ workers means to stop them working. (AM BUSINESS; in BRIT, use lay off )
The strike has ~d about 55,000 machinists.
VERB: V n
8.
If an engine or vehicle is idling, the engine is running slowly and quietly because it is not in gear, and the vehicle is not moving.
Beyond a stand of trees a small plane ~d...
VERB: V