Definition Synonyms
Definition of idling - Reverso English Dictionary
Adjective
1.
inactivenot active or in use
- The idling machine was gathering dust in the corner.
2.
engineTECH. running without doing useful workTECH.
- The car was idling in the driveway.
Noun
1.
restperiod of inactivity or rest
- The workers enjoyed a brief idling during lunch.
2.
machineryTECH. state of a machine running slowly while disconnected from a loadTECH.
- The car was left in idling to warm up during the cold morning..
3.
unemploymentRare state of being unemployedRare
- His idling lasted several months before he found a job.
Expressions with idling
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rate at which an engine runs while disengaged from the drivetrain
The car's idling speed is set to 800 RPM to ensure smooth operation.
Origin of idling
Old English, 'idel' (empty, useless)
Terms with idling included in their meaning
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Examples of idling in a sentence
An idling computer consumes less power. The idling engine hummed softly in the garage. He left the idling motorbike outside the shop. Idling in the park was a welcome break. The idling of machines saved energy. The generator was in idling mode during the maintenance check.
The idling of the engine was barely audible. His idling was a time of reflection and growth. The idling of the workforce affected the economy.
View all translations of idling
Click below to see the appropriate translations facing each meaning.
- French:inactif, repos, ...
- German:untätig, Pause, ...
- Italian:inattivo, riposo, ...
- Spanish:inactivo, inactividad, ...
- Portuguese:inativo, descanso, ...
- Chinese:闲置, 闲暇, ...
- Japanese:使われていない, 休息, ...
- Arabic:خَامِل, خُمُول, ...
- Hebrew:בָּטֵל, הַפְסָקָה, ...
- Russian:неактивный, перерыв, ...
- Ukrainian:бездіяльний, відпочинок, ...
- Hindi:निष्क्रिय, विश्राम, ...
Definition of idle - Reverso English Dictionary
Adjective
1.
inactivenot working or being used
- The factory has been idle for months.
2.
behaviornot wanting to work or lazy
- He is often idle and avoids his chores.
3.
purposewithout purpose or trivial
- They engaged in idle chatter all afternoon.
4.
joblessUK unemployed or not having a jobUK
- Many workers are idle due to the recession.
5.
unfoundedwithout a basis in reason or fact
- His fears were idle and baseless.
Verb
1.
time wastingintr. spend time doing nothing productiveintr.
- He likes to idle on weekends.
2.
mechanicsintr. TECH. run an engine at low speed without gearintr. TECH.
- The car engine was idling quietly.
3.
employmenttr. stop workers from workingtr.
- The strike idled many workers.
Noun
1.
inactivityDated state of doing nothingDated
- He spent his afternoon in idle..
2.
gamingTECH. animation when a character is not movingTECH.
- The character's idle was a simple breathing motion.
3.
mechanicsTECH. lowest power setting of an engineTECH.
- The car was left in idle to warm up.
Expressions with idle
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spend time doing nothing important
He likes to idle about on weekends.
pass time without working
She idled away the hours at the beach.
wealthy people who do not work
The idle rich often spend their days in leisure activities.
extremely lazy or unwilling to work
He is bone idle and never helps around the house.
people with nothing to do may cause trouble
Idle hands do the devil's work, so keep yourself busy.
used to say a hope is unrealistic and will not happen
Without savings, buying a house now, it's just idle dreams.
casual talk about others without purpose
They spent the afternoon engaged in idle gossip.
threat not intended to be carried out
His warning was just an idle threat, as he never followed through..
spend time doing nothing important
He idled away the hours watching TV.
statement of pride not backed by action or truth
His promise to win was just an idle boast.
conversation without serious purpose or value
They engaged in idle talk while waiting for the bus.
during a time when not busy or working
He thought of the idea in an idle moment.
because of simple interest, not for any real reason
I asked out of idle curiosity.
unfounded conjecture or assumption
The rumor was nothing more than idle speculation.
engine rotation rate when running without load or throttle input
The mechanic adjusted the idle speed to stop the engine from stalling.
time when a worker or machine is not productive
The factory's idle time increased due to supply chain issues.
amount of resources not being used for work or production
The factory has a lot of idle capacity this month.
video game that continues with little or no player input
Idle game lets you earn points while you are away.
pulley that rotates freely to guide a belt
The idle pulley helps maintain the belt's alignment.
wheel that supports or guides moving parts without power transmission
The idle wheel in the conveyor system was replaced to ensure smooth operation..
when people are bored, they may do bad things
Remember, idle hands are the Devil's playthings, so stay busy.
doing nothing leads to trouble
Remember, idle hands are the Devil's workshop, so find something productive to do.
when people have nothing to do, they may get into trouble
Remember, idle hands are the Devil's tools, so keep yourself busy.
speech lacking substance or sincerity
His promises were just idle words.
Origin of idle
Old English, idel (empty, vain)
Examples of idle in a sentence
Many computers are idle during the night. The idle worker ignored the growing pile of forms. Don't be idle when the garden needs weeding. She spent an idle afternoon reading by the lake. His idle remarks were ignored by the group. The idle youth gathered at the park.
Factories remain idle during the strike. The rumor was dismissed as idle gossip. Their idle accusations upset the staff. She would idle by the river, watching the ducks. They tend to idle after lunch, enjoying the break. He let the engine idle while waiting for her. The mechanic idled the engine to check for issues. The factory was idled due to supply issues. Economic downturns can idle entire industries. She found herself in idle after the project ended. The machine remained in idle during the maintenance. The game's idle showed the character tapping their foot. An elaborate idle featured the character yawning. The engine remained in idle during the traffic jam. He adjusted the idle to improve fuel efficiency.
View all translations of idle
Click below to see the appropriate translations facing each meaning.
- French:inactif, paresser, ...
- German:untätig, faulenzen, ...
- Italian:fermo, oziare, ...
- Spanish:inactivo, holgazanear, ...
- Portuguese:parado, vadiar, ...
- Chinese:闲置的, 无所事事, ...
- Japanese:稼働していない, ぶらぶらする, ...
- Arabic:عَاطِل, تَبَطَّل, ...
- Hebrew:בָּטֵל, לְהִתְבַּטֵּל, ...
- Russian:праздный, простаивать, ...
- Ukrainian:бездіяльний, байдикувати, ...
- Hindi:निष्क्रिय, बेकार बैठना, ...
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