noun |
adj |
verb |
adv |
(adj) unused
not in active use
the machinery sat idle during the strike; idle hands
(adj) jobless, out of work
not having a job
idle carpenters; jobless transients; many people in the area were out of work
(adj) dead
not yielding a return
dead capital; idle funds
(adj) loose
lacking a sense of restraint or responsibility
idle talk; a loose tongue
(adj) light
silly or trivial
idle pleasure; light banter; light idle chatter
(adj) unwarranted, wild, baseless, groundless, unfounded
without a basis in reason or fact
baseless gossip; the allegations proved groundless; idle fears; unfounded suspicions; unwarranted jealousy
(verb) tick over
run disconnected or idle
the engine is idling
be idle; exist in a changeless situation
The old man sat and stagnated on his porch; He slugged in bed all morning