idle - definitions and related words on rotascope.com

» idle

Words people most associate with “idle”:

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Noun (1 meaning)

1. the state of an engine or other mechanism that is idling.

Example:

“the car engine was running at idle”

idle is a type of:

operation (noun) - the state of being in effect or being operative

Verb (2 meanings)

1. run disconnected or idle.

to idle, tick over

Example:

“the engine is idling”

to idle is the opposite of:

to run (verb) - be operating, running or functioning

2. be idle; exist in a changeless situation.

to idle, laze, slug, stagnate

Examples:

“The old man sat and stagnated on his porch”,
“He slugged in bed all morning”

to idle is the opposite of:

to work (verb) - exert oneself by doing mental or physical work for a purpose or out of necessity

ways to idle:

to bum, bum around, bum about, arse around, arse about, fuck off, loaf, frig around, waste one's time, lounge around, loll, loll around, lounge about (verb) - be lazy or idle
to daydream, moon (verb) - have dreamlike musings or fantasies while awake
to lie about, lie around (verb) - hang around idly
to moon, moon around, moon on (verb) - be idle in a listless or dreamy way
to ride the bench, warm the bench (verb) - be out of the game

to idle is derivationally related to:

idleness, idling, loafing (noun) - having no employment
idler, loafer, do-nothing, layabout, bum (noun) - person who does no work
sluggard, slug (noun) - an idle slothful person
stagnation, stagnancy, doldrums (noun) - a state of inactivity (in business or art etc)

Adjective (7 meanings)

1. not in action or at work.

Examples:

“an idle laborer”,
“idle drifters”,
“the idle rich”,
“an idle mind”

idle is the opposite of:

busy (adjective) - actively or fully engaged or occupied

Derivationally related form:

faineance, idleness (noun) - the trait of being idle out of a reluctance to work

see also:

ineffective, uneffective, ineffectual (adjective) - not producing an intended effect
unemployed (adjective) - not engaged in a gainful occupation

idle is similar to:

bone-idle, bone-lazy (adjective) - constitutionally lazy or idle
faineant, indolent, lazy, otiose, slothful, work-shy (adjective) - disinclined to work or exertion
lackadaisical (adjective) -
leisured (adjective) -
unengaged (adjective) - not busy or occupied

2. without a basis in reason or fact.

baseless, groundless, idle, unfounded, unwarranted, wild

Examples:

“baseless gossip”,
“the allegations proved groundless”,
“idle fears”,
“unfounded suspicions”,
“unwarranted jealousy”

Derivationally related form:

groundlessness, idleness (noun) - the quality of lacking substance or value

idle is similar to:

unsupported (adjective) - not sustained or maintained by nonmaterial aid

3. not in active use.

Examples:

“the machinery sat idle during the strike”,
“idle hands”

Derivationally related form:

idleness, idling, loafing (noun) - having no employment

idle is similar to:

inactive (adjective) - lacking activity

4. silly or trivial.

Examples:

“idle pleasure”,
“light banter”,
“light idle chatter”

Derivationally related form:

lightsomeness, lightness (noun) - the trait of being lighthearted and frivolous

idle is similar to:

frivolous (adjective) - not serious in content or attitude or behavior

5. lacking a sense of restraint or responsibility.

Examples:

“idle talk”,
“a loose tongue”

Derivationally related form:

looseness (noun) - freedom from restraint

idle is similar to:

irresponsible (adjective) - showing lack of care for consequences

6. not yielding a return.

Examples:

“dead capital”,
“idle funds”

idle is similar to:

unprofitable (adjective) - producing little or no profit or gain

7. not having a job.

idle, jobless, out of work

Examples:

“idle carpenters”,
“jobless transients”,
“many people in the area were out of work”

Derivationally related form:

idleness, idling, loafing (noun) - having no employment

idle is similar to:

unemployed (adjective) - not engaged in a gainful occupation