[idle] adj idler ; idlest [ME idel, fr. OE idel; akin to OHG ital worthless] (bef. 12c) 1: lacking worth or basis: vain "~ chatter" "~ pleasure"
2: not occupied or employed: as a: having no employment: inactive "~ workers" b: not turned to normal or appropriate use "~ funds" "~ farmland" c: not scheduled to compete "the team will be ~ tomorrow" 3 a: shiftless, lazy b: having no evident lawful means of support syn see vain, inactive -- idle.ness n -- idly adv
[2]idle vb idled ; idling vi (1592) 1 a: to spend time in idleness b: to move idly
2: to run at low power and often disconnected usu. so that power is not used for useful work "the engine is idling" ~ vt 1: to pass in idleness
2: to make idle "workers idled by a strike"
3: to cause to idle -- idler n