Meaning & Definition of Idle in English

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

• "The car engine was running at idle"

1. Run disconnected or idle

• "The engine is idling"

2. Be idle

• Exist in a changeless situation

• "The old man sat and stagnated on his porch"

• "He slugged in bed all morning"

1. Not in action or at work

• "An idle laborer"

• "Idle drifters"

• "The idle rich"

• "An idle mind"

2. Without a basis in reason or fact

• "Baseless gossip"

• "The allegations proved groundless"

• "Idle fears"

• "Unfounded suspicions"

• "Unwarranted jealousy"

3. Not in active use

• "The machinery sat idle during the strike"

• "Idle hands"

4. Silly or trivial

• "Idle pleasure"

• "Light banter"

• "Light idle chatter"

5. Lacking a sense of restraint or responsibility

• "Idle talk"

• "A loose tongue"

6. Not yielding a return

• "Dead capital"

• "Idle funds"

7. Not having a job

• "Idle carpenters"

• "Jobless transients"

• "Many people in the area were out of work"