The difference between Idle and Inactive
When used as adjectives, idle means empty, vacant, whereas inactive means not active, temporarily or permanently.
Idle is also noun with the meaning: an idle animation.
Idle is also verb with the meaning: to spend in idleness.
check bellow for the other definitions of Idle and Inactive
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Idle as an adjective (obsolete):
Empty, vacant.
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Idle as an adjective:
Not being used appropriately; not occupied; (of time) with no, no important, or not much activity.
Examples:
"'idle hours"
"'[[idle time]] (compare: [[downtime]])"
"My computer [[hibernate]]s after it has been idle for 30 minutes."
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Idle as an adjective:
Not engaged in any occupation or employment; unemployed; inactive; doing nothing in particular.
Examples:
"'idle workmen"
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Idle as an adjective:
Averse to work, labor or employment; lazy; slothful.
Examples:
"an idle fellow"
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Idle as an adjective:
Of no importance; useless; worthless; vain; trifling; thoughtless; silly.
Examples:
"an idle story;  idle talk;  idle rumor"
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Idle as an adjective (obsolete):
Light-headed; foolish.
Examples:
"rfquotek Ford"
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Idle as a verb (transitive):
To spend in idleness; to waste; to consume.
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Idle as a verb (intransitive):
To lose or spend time doing nothing, or without being employed in business.
Examples:
"to idle in an [[IRC]] channel"
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Idle as a verb (intransitive):
Of an engine: to run at a slow speed, or out of gear; to tick over.
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Idle as a noun (gaming):
An idle animation.
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Idle as a noun (gaming):
An idle game.
Examples:
"synonyms: idle game incremental game"
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Inactive as an adjective:
Not active, temporarily or permanently.
Examples:
"The volcano is inactive, but is only dormant."
"An inactive boy, he rarely exercised and preferred to stay indoors."
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Inactive as an adjective:
Not functioning or operating; broken down
Examples:
"The photocopier is inactive pending repair."
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Inactive as an adjective:
Retired from duty or service.
Examples:
"Admiral Jones is now on the inactive list."
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Inactive as an adjective (chemistry):
Relatively inert.
Examples:
"Aluminium is inactive towards water."
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Inactive as an adjective (physics):
Showing no optical activity in polarized light.
Examples:
"Synthetic glycine is optically inactive as it contains equal amounts of the d- and l- form."