idle timenoun [ U ]
ukusIT the period of time when a computer or other machine is not being used despite the fact that it is available to be used:
Idle time can sometimes be used to save additional power, with the help of "hibernate" or "standby" choices.
PRODUCTION, HR a period of time when a business does not operate or employees stop working, for example because a machine breaks down or there is no work to do :
The report said employees had excessive idle time at many operations because of insufficient work load.
Compare
downtime
uptime