English
Etymology
Old English idel|īdel, from West Germanic *īdla-. Cognate with Dutch ijdel �unimportant�, German eitel �bare, worthless�.
Pronunciation
AHD|īd-(�)l, IPA|/�aɪd(�)l/, SAMPA|/"aId(@)l/
Adjective
en-adj
- obsolete empty|Empty, vacant.
- Not turned to appropriate use; not occupy|occupied.
#: idle hours
- Not engaged in any occupation or employment; unemployed; inactive; doing nothing.
#: idle workmen
- averse|Averse to work, labor or employment; lazy; slothful.
#: an idle fellow
- Of no importance; useless; worthless; vain; trifling; thoughtless; silly.
#: an idle story; idle talk; idle rumor
Translations
trans-top|not turned to appropriate use, not occupied
Portuguese: vazio, inapropriado, desocupado
trans-mid
trans-bottom
trans-top|not engaged in any occupation or employment
Bulgarian: незае�
Finnish: joutilas, toimeton
Italian: disoccupato
Portuguese: desocupado, desempregado
trans-mid
trans-bottom
trans-top|averse to work or labor
Finnish: laiska
Portuguese: preguiçoso, vagabundo
trans-mid
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trans-top|of no importance, worthless, useless
Finnish: joutava
Portuguese: inútil, imprestável, vão
trans-mid
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Verb
en-verb|idl|ing
- transitive To spend in idleness; to waste; to consume.
- intransitive To lose or spend time doing nothing, or without being employed in business.
- intransitive Of an engine: to run at a slow speed, or out of gear; to tick-over.
Translations
trans-top|to spend in idleness, to waste
Hebrew: he-translation|�����|av"talah
trans-mid
trans-bottom
trans-top|to lose or spend time doing nothing
rftrans
Hebrew: he-translation|�����|av"talah
trans-mid
trans-bottom
trans-top|to run at a slow speed, or out of gear
Finnish: olla joutokäynti|joutokäynnillä
trans-mid
trans-bottom
Related terms
idler
References
R:Century 1911
R:Webster 1913
fa:idle
fr:idle
io:idle
it:idle
hu:idle
pl:idle
ru:idle
fi:idle
ta:idle
te:idle
vi:idle
zh:idle
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