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“Idle” or “Idol” or “Idyll”

idle / idol / idyll are similar-sounding terms with different meanings (referred to as homophones). To better understand the differences, see below for definitions, pronunciation guides, and example sentences using each term.

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Definitions

What each term means

Same sound, different spellings and meanings, shown with a pronunciation guide for each term.

idle AY·d·ah·l

  • nounthe state of an engine or other mechanism that is idling.
  • verbrun disconnected or idle.
  • verbbe idle; exist in a changeless situation.
  • adjectivenot in action or at work.
  • adjectivenot in active use.
  • adjectivesilly or trivial.
  • adjectivelacking a sense of restraint or responsibility.
  • adjectivenot having a job.

idol AY·d·ah·l

  • nouna material effigy that is worshipped.
  • nounsomeone who is adored blindly and excessively.

idyll AY·d·ah·l

  • nounan episode of such pastoral or romantic charm as to qualify as the subject of a poetic idyll.
Usage

Examples in context

Real sentences for each spelling. Hover an example to copy it.

“idle”

  • Idle or variation, may also refer
  • …an engine with a loping idle from a long-duration camshaft.
  • BatteryMAX (idle detection)
  • …recruiting individuals who then volunteer idle home computer time in order…
  • …revs, just before the engine idle speed (tickover).
  • Idle railway station (Leeds and Bradford
  • Idle (GNR) railway station, in Idle,…
  • Idle railway station
  • She remained idle until sold on 7 May
  • Idle (L&BR) railway station, in Idle,…

“idol”

  • …had previously auditioned for American Idol in the eighth season, but…
  • American Idol
  • He appeared on the American Idol tenth season finale, singing "Livin'…
  • …Mariano as a "svelte singing idol of French operetta of the…
  • …his aired audition on American Idol that he was upset he…
  • Category:American Idol participants
  • Sheemish is a freshly carved idol added to the same temple…
  • James Durbin on American Idol
  • …he participated in the American Idol Tour that season.
  • …album after appearing on American Idol, and wrote with James Michael…

“idyll”

  • …Naiads at Play, A Sea Idyll, and War.
  • The Riviera idyll did not last long, because…

Examples are Wikipedia snippets under the CC ShareAlike 3.0 license. Definitions are drawn from WordNet.

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