n.
Pronunciation: ' em(p)-t ē
Function: adjective
Inflected Form: emp · ti · er ; -est
Etymology: Middle English, from Old English ǣ mettig unoccupied, from ǣ metta leisure, perhaps from ǣ - without + -metta (prob. akin to m ō tan to have to) ― more at MUST
Date: before 12th century
1 a : containing nothing < empty shelves> b : not occupied or inhabited <an empty building> c : UNFREQUENTED d : not pregnant < empty heifer> e : NULL 4A <the empty set>
2 a : lacking reality, substance, meaning, or value : HOLLOW <an empty pleasure> b : destitute of effect or force <an empty threat> c : devoid of sense : FOOLISH
3 : HUNGRY
4 a : IDLE < empty hours> b : having no purpose or result : USELESS
5 : marked by the absence of human life, activity, or comfort <an empty silence>
– emp · ti · ly \ -t ə -l ē \ adverb
– emp · ti · ness \ -t ē -n ə s \ noun
synonyms EMPTY , VACANT , BLANK , VOID , VACUOUS mean lacking contents which could or should be present. EMPTY suggests a complete absence of contents <an empty bucket>. VACANT suggests an absence of appropriate contents or occupants <a vacant apartment>. BLANK stresses the absence of any significant, relieving, or intelligible features on a surface <a blank wall>. VOID suggests absolute emptiness as far as the mind or senses can determine <a statement void of meaning>. VACUOUS suggests the emptiness of a vacuum and especially the lack of intelligence or significance <a vacuous facial expression>. synonym see in addition VAIN