The deliberate act of delaying and playing instead of working.

synonyms: dalliance, trifling.

Roget 683: inactivity; inaction etc. 681; inertness etc. 172; obstinacy etc. 606.    lull etc. (cessation) 142; quiescence etc. 265; rust, rustiness.    idleness, remissness etc. adj.; sloth, indolence, indiligence^†; dawdling etc. v.. ergophobia^†, otiosity^†.    dullness etc. adj.; languor; segnity^†, segnitude^†; lentor^†; sluggishness etc. (slowness) 275; procrastination etc. (delay) 133; torpor, torpidity, torpescence^†; stupor etc. (insensibility) 823; somnolence; drowsiness etc. adj.; nodding etc. v.; oscitation^†, oscitancy^†; pandiculation^†, hypnotism, lethargy; statuvolence heaviness^†, heavy eyelids.    sleep, slumber; sound sleep, heavy sleep, balmy sleep; Morpheus; Somnus; coma, trance, ecstasis^†, dream, hibernation, nap, doze, snooze, siesta, wink of sleep, forty winks, snore; hypnology^†.    dull work; pottering; relaxation etc. (loosening) 47; Castle of Indolence.    [Cause of inactivity] lullaby, sedative, tranquilizer, hypnotic, sleeping pill, relaxant, anaesthetic, general anaesthetic etc. 174; torpedo.    [person who is inactive] idler, drone, droil^†, dawdle, mopus^†; do-little faineant [Fr.], dummy, sleeping partner; afternoon farmer; truant etc. (runaway) 623; bummer^†, loafer, goldbrick, goldbicker, lounger, lazzarone [It]; lubber, lubbard^†; slow coach etc. (slow.) 275; opium eater, lotus eater; slug; lag^†, sluggard, slugabed; slumberer, dormouse, marmot; waiter on Providence, fruges consumere natus [Lat.].    ... show more