I. ˈī-d ə l adjective
( idler ˈīd-lər, ˈī-d ə l-ər ; idlest ˈīd-ləst, ˈī-d ə l-əst)
Etymology: Middle English idel, from Old English īdel; akin to Old High German ītal worthless
Date: before 12th century
1. : lacking worth or basis : vain
idle chatter
idle pleasure
2. : not occupied or employed: as
a. : having no employment : inactive
idle workers
b. : not turned to normal or appropriate use
idle funds
idle farmland
c. : not scheduled to compete
the team will be idle tomorrow
3.
a. : shiftless , lazy
b. : having no evident lawful means of support
Synonyms: see vain , inactive
• idle·ness ˈī-d ə l-nəs noun
• idly ˈīd-lē, ˈī-d ə l-ē adverb
II. verb
( idled ; idling ˈīd-liŋ, ˈī-d ə l-iŋ)
Date: 1592
intransitive verb
1.
a. : to spend time in idleness
b. : to move idly
2. : to run at low power and often disconnected usually so that power is not used for useful work
the engine is idling
transitive verb
1. : to pass in idleness
2. : to make idle
workers idled by a strike
3. : to cause to idle
• idler ˈīd-lər, ˈī-d ə l-ər noun
Synonyms:
idle , loaf , lounge , loll , laze mean to spend time doing nothing. idle may be used in reference to persons that move lazily or without purpose
idled the day away
loaf suggests either resting or wandering about as though there were nothing to do
she does her work and then loafs the rest of the day
lounge , though occasionally used as equal to idle or loaf, typically conveys an additional implication of resting or reclining against a support or of physical comfort and ease in relaxation
he lounged against the wall
loll also carries an implication of a posture similar to that of lounge, but places greater stress upon an indolent or relaxed attitude
lolling on the couch
laze usually implies the relaxation of a busy person enjoying a vacation or moments of leisure
lazed about between appointments