adj. & v.
adj. (idler, idlest) 1 lazy, indolent. 2 not in use; not working; unemployed. 3 (of time etc.) unoccupied. 4 having no special basis or purpose (idle rumour; idle curiosity). 5 useless. 6 (of an action, thought, or word) ineffective, worthless, vain.
v. 1 a intr. (of an engine) run slowly without doing any work. b tr. cause (an engine) to idle. 2 intr. be idle. 3 tr. (foll. by away) pass (time etc.) in idleness. idle wheel an intermediate wheel between two geared wheels, esp. to allow them to rotate in the same direction. idleness n. idly adv.
[ OE idel empty, useless ]