idle definition

1. the state of an engine or other mechanism that is idling
• examples: the car engine was running at idle
2. run disconnected or idle
• examples: the engine is idling
3. be idle; exist in a changeless situation
• examples: The old man sat and stagnated on his porch
• examples: He slugged in bed all morning
4. not in action or at work
• examples: an idle laborer
• examples: idle drifters
• examples: the idle rich
• examples: an idle mind
5. not in active use
• examples: the machinery sat idle during the strike
• examples: idle hands
6. silly or trivial
• examples: idle pleasure
• examples: light banter
• examples: light idle chatter
7. lacking a sense of restraint or responsibility
• examples: idle talk
• examples: a loose tongue
8. not having a job
• examples: idle carpenters
• examples: jobless transients
• examples: many people in the area were out of work