verb
- third person singular present of idle; to spend time doing nothing productive; to be inactive or lazy
- third person singular present of idle; (of an engine or machine) to run slowly without being engaged or doing work
Usage: mechanical/automotive
Examples
- He idles away his afternoons watching television.
- She never idles when there’s work to be done.
- The car idles smoothly at the traffic light.
- The engine idles too roughly and needs adjustment.
- While others work, he just idles around the office.
- The boat’s motor idles quietly in the harbor.