Definitions for idles

• Definition
• Anagrams (85)

idles i·dle

Spelling: [ahyd-l]

IPA: /ˈaɪd l/

Idles is a 5 letter English word. It's valid Scrabble word worth 5 points. It's valid Words with friends word worth 6 points.

You can make 85 anagrams from letters in idles (deils).

Definitions for idles

noun

1. the state or quality of being idle.
2. the state of a machine, engine, or mechanism that is idling:

adjective

1. not working or active; unemployed; doing nothing:
2. not spent or filled with activity:
3. not in use or operation; not kept busy:
4. habitually doing nothing or avoiding work; lazy.
5. of no real worth, importance, or significance:
6. having no basis or reason; baseless; groundless:
7. frivolous; vain:
8. meaningless; senseless:
9. futile; unavailing:

verb (used with object)

1. to pass (time) doing nothing (often followed by away):
2. to cause (a person) to be idle:
3. to cause (a machine, engine, or mechanism) to idle:

verb (used without object)

1. to pass time doing nothing.
2. to move, loiter, or saunter aimlessly:
3. (of a machine, engine, or mechanism) to operate at a low speed, disengaged from the load.

Origin of idles

before 900; 1915-20 for def 12; Middle English, Old English īdel (adj.) empty, trifling, vain, useless; cognate with German eitel

Examples for idles

The idle rich had driven down from Biarritz with their uniformed chauffeurs.

Any upcoming release of a new Apple product guarantees a deafening cacophony of idle speculation from tech sites.

Sviatohirsk is an idle forest resort, usually popular with families and the elderly.

I confess, Eudora, it pained me to see you listen to his idle flattery.

He had seen much of her during the week, and he knew she had not been idle.

Did you bring your work, girls, or is it to be a case of idle hands?

This was not idle speculation; Bowe Bergdahl was believed to be held by the militants of the Haqqani Network.

Aspasia will tell you I have been a beautiful but idle dreamer all my life.

And in the summer, when the lift is idle, it feeds juice into the local community.

We are not now about to give him any idle panegyric on the occasion.