Definition of "idle" in English

adjective

1. (obsolete) Empty, vacant.

2. Not being used appropriately; not occupied; (of time) with no, no important, or not much activity.

   • idle hours
   • My computer hibernates after it has been idle for 30 minutes.

3. Not engaged in any occupation or employment; unemployed; inactive; doing nothing in particular.

   • idle workmen

4. Averse to work, labor or employment; lazy; slothful.

   • an idle fellow

5. Of no importance; useless; worthless; vain; trifling; thoughtless; silly.

   • an idle story;  idle talk;  idle rumor

6. (obsolete) Light-headed; foolish.

verb

1. (transitive) To spend in idleness; to waste; to consume.

2. (intransitive) To lose or spend time doing nothing, or without being employed in business.

   • to idle in an IRC channel

3. (intransitive) Of an engine: to run at a slow speed, or out of gear; to tick over.

4. (transitive) To cause (an engine) to idle(3)

   • The driver idled his engine until the car finally stalled.

noun

1. The state of idling, of being idle.

2. (mechanical engineering) The lowest selectable thrust or power setting of an engine.

   • a lumpy idle
   • A slight valve tap was audible at idle but was not noticeable otherwise.

3. (gaming) An idle animation.

4. (gaming) An idle game.