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Idle vs Working - What's the difference?

idle | working |

As adjectives the difference between idle and working

is that idle is (lb) empty, vacant while working is that is or are functioning.

As verbs the difference between idle and working

is that idle is to spend in idleness; to waste; to consume while working is .

As a noun working is

(usually plural) operation; action.

idle

English

(wikipedia idle)

Adjective

(en adjective)
  • (lb) Empty, vacant.
  • Not turned to appropriate use; not occupied.
  • :
  • Not engaged in any occupation or employment; unemployed; inactive; doing nothing.
  • :
  • *
  • *:Molly the dairymaid came a little way from the rickyard, and said she would pluck the pigeon that very night after work. She was always ready to do anything for us boys; and we could never quite make out why they scolded her so for an idle hussy indoors. It seemed so unjust. Looking back, I recollect she had very beautiful brown eyes.
  • Averse to work, labor or employment; lazy; slothful.
  • :
  • *
  • *:“I don't mean all of your friends—only a small proportion—which, however, connects your circle with that deadly, idle , brainless bunch—the insolent chatterers at the opera, the gorged dowagers, the worn-out, passionless men, the enervated matrons of the summer capital,!”
  • Of no importance; useless; worthless; vain; trifling; thoughtless; silly.
  • :
  • (lb) Light-headed; foolish.
  • :(Ford)

    • Derived terms

    * idle hands are the devil's workshop * idle pulley * idle wheel

    Synonyms

    * See also

    Verb

    (idl)
  • To spend in idleness; to waste; to consume.
  • To lose or spend time doing nothing, or without being employed in business.
    • to idle in an IRC channel
  • * 1939 , Joan Evans, Chateaubriand (page 32)
    • He had already heard of the young man's projected journey — evidently the Comte de Combourg had written many letters while his son idled at St. Malo
  • Of an engine: to run at a slow speed, or out of gear; to tick over.

    • Related terms

    * idler

    References

    * *

    Anagrams

    * * *

    working

    English

    Etymology 1

    From (etyl) werking, werkynge, warkynge, worchinge, from (etyl) . Cognate with (etyl) wirking, warking, (etyl) werking, (etyl) Wirkung.

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • (usually plural) Operation; action.
  • Method of operation.
  • Fermentation.
  • (of bodies of water) Becoming full of a vegetable substance.

    • Etymology 2

    From .

    Verb

    (head)
    • Leave him alone; he's working .

    Adjective

    (-)
  • That is or are functioning.
    • a working ventilator
  • That suffices but requires additional work.
    • a working copy of the script
  • In paid employment.
    • working mothers
  • Of or relating to employment.
    • the working week
  • Enough to allow one to use something.
    • a working knowledge of computers
    Synonyms
    * (functioning''): functioning; up (''mainly used of computers ) * (that suffices but requires further work ): draft, provisional, temporary * (in paid employment ): employed, in employment * (of or relating to employment ): work * (enough to allow one to use something ): basic
    Antonyms
    * (functioning''): broken, broken-down, down (''mainly used of computers )

    Related terms

    * work

    References

    *

    Statistics

    *