idle

i|dle1 [ `aıdl ] adjective

1. ) machines or factories that are idle are not being used:

The extra power stations are idle when demand is lower.

stand/lie/sit idle: Valuable machinery is left to lie idle for long periods.

a ) workers who are idle have no work to do:

Many men were made idle as the mills closed down.

2. ) lazy:

Go upstairs and wake up that idle brother of yours.

bone idle (=very lazy): You're just bone idle, all of you.

a ) often in negatives not doing anything, when there are things that you should do:

Don't worry. I have not been idle while you were away.

This country will not remain idle if its friends are attacked.

3. ) only before noun without a good reason or real purpose:

It was only from idle curiosity that she opened the book.

idle chatter/gossip

4. ) not really intended or not likely to have any result:

idle threat: It didn't sound like an idle threat to me (=it was a real threat).

the idle rich

very rich people who can spend their time enjoying themselves rather than working. This expression suggests that you do not approve of people like this.

╾ i|dle|ness noun uncount

idle

i|dle 2 [ `aıdl ] verb

1. ) intransitive or transitive if an engine idles, it runs slowly and does not produce any movement:

The taxi hummed in the road, engine idling, meter ticking over.

2. ) transitive to stop using factories or employing people, usually for a short period of time:

Plant closures have led to skilled workers being idled.

,idle a`way phrasal verb transitive

to spend time relaxing and doing nothing:

Morse idled away most of Monday in his office.