idle

Describes a person, machine, or state that is not active, working, or in use; often implies laziness or lack of purpose.

ruОписывает человека, машину или состояние, которое не активно, не работает или не используется; часто подразумевает лень или отсутствие цели.esDescribe a una persona, máquina o estado que no está activo, no trabaja o no se usa; a menudo implica pereza o falta de propósito.frDécrit une personne, une machine ou un état qui n'est pas actif, ne travaille pas ou n'est pas utilisé ; implique souvent la paresse ou l'absence de but.deBezeichnet eine Person, eine Maschine oder einen Zustand, der nicht aktiv, nicht in Betrieb oder ungenutzt ist; oft mit Faulheit oder Ziellosigkeit verbunden.ptDescreve pessoa, máquina ou estado que não está ativo, não funciona ou não é usado; muitas vezes implica preguiça ou falta de propósito.zh形容人或机器处于不活动、不工作或未被使用的状态；也常指懒散、无所事事或缺乏目标。arيصف شخصًا أو آلة أو حالة لا تعمل أو غير مستخدمة أو غير نشطة، وغالبًا ما يوحي بالكسل أو انعدام الهدف.

1. Not active or working B1 formal

   Not engaged in any activity; not in action or at work.

   • The factory machines stood idle during the strike.
   • He spent an idle afternoon just watching the clouds.
   • The workers were idle because of the power outage.

   ruБездействующийesinactivofrinactif, oisifdeuntätigptociosozh闲置的arغير عامل

   Sinónimos: at leisuredormantinactiveindolentlanguidlazyquiescentsluggishunemployedunoccupied

   Antónimos: activebusyindustriousworking

2. Without reason or fact B2 formal

   Lacking a basis in reason or fact; groundless.

   • The rumors were idle gossip with no truth behind them.
   • He made idle threats that he never intended to carry out.
   • Idle speculation about the merger caused unnecessary worry.

   ruБеспочвенныйesinfundadofrsans fondementdeGrundlosptSem fundamentozh无根据的arبلا أساس

   Sinónimos: baselessemptygroundlessunfoundedunjustifiedunreasonableunsubstantiatedunsupportedunwarrantedvain

   Antónimos: justifiedvalid

3. Not in use B1 formal

   Not currently being used or operated.

   • The computer remained idle for hours.
   • Idle land was converted into a community garden.
   • The car sat idle in the garage all winter.

   ruНеиспользуемыйesinactivofrinactif, non utilisédeNicht in BetriebptNão utilizadozh未使用的arغير مستخدم

   Sinónimos: availabledormantfallowfreeinactiveunoccupiedunusedvacant

   Antónimos: activebusyin useoperationalutilizedworking

4. Silly or trivial B2 formal

   Lacking serious purpose or value; frivolous.

   • They engaged in idle chatter about the weather.
   • Idle pastimes like watching reality TV don't interest him.
   • She dismissed the question as idle curiosity.

   ruПустой или легкомысленныйesfútil, frívolofrOisif, futiledeNichtig oder leichtfertigptFútil ou frívolozh无聊的或轻浮的arتافه أو عابث

   Sinónimos: emptyfrivolousinsignificantpointlesssillytriflingtrivialunimportantvainworthless

   Antónimos: importantmeaningfulpurposefulserioussignificantsubstantialvaluableweighty

5. Lacking restraint or responsibility B2 formal

   Showing a lack of discipline or sense of duty.

   • Idle behavior in the classroom disrupted the lesson.
   • He was criticized for his idle lifestyle.
   • Idle hands are the devil's workshop, as the saying goes.

   ruБезответственныйesOcioso, irresponsablefrdésœuvré, irresponsable, sans disciplinedeVerantwortungslosptIrresponsávelzh不负责任arغير مسؤول

   Sinónimos: carelessirresponsiblelooseundisciplined

   Antónimos: conscientiousdiligentdisciplinedindustriousresponsible

6. Not yielding a return C1 formal

   Not producing any profit, benefit, or result.

   • The investment lay idle, earning no interest.
   • Idle capital is a waste of resources.
   • The land remained idle, generating no income.

   ruНе приносящий доходаesimproductivo, que no rindefrNon productifdeKeinen Ertrag bringendptSem rendimentozh不产生收益的arغير مُدِرّ للربح

   Sinónimos: barrendeaddormantfruitlessnonproductiveprofitlessunproductiveunprofitable

   Antónimos: fruitfulproductiveprofitable

7. Not having a job B1 formal

   Unemployed or without paid work.

   • He has been idle since the company closed down.
   • The government created programs to help idle workers.
   • Many idle youths are seeking employment opportunities.

   ruБезработныйesDesempleado, sin trabajofrSans emploideArbeitslosptDesempregadozh无业的arعاطل عن العمل

   Sinónimos: joblessout of workunemployed

   Antónimos: busyemployedworking

• idler comparative form
• more idle comparative form
• idlest superlative form
• most idle superlative form

incontable

A noun referring to the state of an engine or mechanism that is running but not engaged or in use.

ruСуществительное, обозначающее состояние двигателя или механизма, который работает, но не задействован или не используется.esSustantivo que designa el estado de un motor o mecanismo que funciona pero no está acoplado ni en uso; también la acción de no hacer nada o el tiempo en que no se trabaja o no se utiliza algo.frNom désignant l'état d'un moteur ou d'une machine qui tourne sans être sollicité ou utilisé, ou plus généralement une période d'inactivité, de non-utilisation ou de chômage technique.deSubstantiv, das den Zustand eines Motors oder Mechanismus bezeichnet, der läuft, aber nicht genutzt oder eingesetzt wird; allgemeiner auch Untätigkeit oder Stillstand.ptSubstantivo que designa o estado de um motor ou mecanismo que está funcionando, mas não está engatado, acionado ou em uso.zh表示机器或发动机处于运转但未投入使用或未工作的状态；也泛指人不做事、闲散或系统处于空闲状态。arاسم يدل على حالة المحرك أو الآلة التي تعمل دون أن تكون مشغولة أو مستخدمة، وكذلك على التوقف أو التعطل أو عدم القيام بأي عمل.

1. Idling state of an engine B2 formal

   The state of an engine or other mechanism when it is running but not engaged or doing useful work.

   • The car was left in idle while waiting for the traffic light.
   • He adjusted the carburetor to improve the engine's idle.
   • The mechanic checked the idle speed of the motor.

   ruХолостой ходesRalentí del motorfrRalenti (d'un moteur)deLeerlaufptMarcha lentazh怠速arوضع اللاتعشيق

   Sinónimos: idling

• idles plural form
• idles' possessive plural form
• idle's possessive singular form

A verb meaning to spend time doing nothing or to run an engine without being in gear.

ruГлагол, означающий проводить время без дела или работать двигателю на холостом ходу.esVerbo que significa pasar el tiempo sin hacer nada o, para un motor, funcionar sin carga ni movimiento.frVerbe signifiant passer son temps à ne rien faire ou, pour un moteur, tourner au ralenti.deVerb, das bedeutet, Zeit untätig zu verbringen, oder bei einem Motor: im Leerlauf laufen.ptVerbo que significa passar o tempo sem fazer nada ou fazer um motor funcionar em marcha lenta.zh动词，指无所事事、虚度时光；也指发动机空转或处于怠速状态。arفعل يدل على قضاء الوقت دون عمل أو بلا فائدة، ويُستعمل أيضاً عن المحرك الذي يعمل دون حمل أو حركة.

1. Run without doing work B2 formal technical

   To run an engine or machine while it is not connected to a load or doing useful work.

   • The car engine was idling while we waited.
   • He left the truck idling in the driveway.
   • The factory machines were idling during the power outage.

   ruРаботать на холостом ходуesFuncionar en ralentífrtourner au ralentideLeerlaufenptTrabalhar em marcha lentazh空转arيعمل على الفارغ

   Sinónimos: tick over

   Antónimos: racerev

2. Be inactive or do nothing B1 formal

   To spend time doing nothing or to remain inactive.

   • He idled away the afternoon watching television.
   • The workers were idling because the project was delayed.
   • She idled in the park, enjoying the sunshine.

   ruБездельничатьesestar ociosofrrester inactifdeNichts tunptFicar à toazh闲荡arالتكاسل أو البطالة

   Sinónimos: dallydawdlelanguishlazeloafloiterlollloungeslackvegetate

   Antónimos: actfunctionlabortoilwork

• idled past participle
• idled past simple
• idling present participle
• idles third person singular