Skip to content
ontologydriven
Sign out

Dictionary

Words, grammatical forms and meanings linked to the ontology.

lazy en · ADJ

Pronunciation

  • /ˈleɪ̯zi(ː)/ (General-American, Received-Pronunciation)
  • [ˈlæ̝ɪ̯zɪi̯] (Australia, New-Zealand)
  • [ˈleɪ̯zɪi̯] (General-American, Received-Pronunciation)
  • /ˈlæɪziː/ (Australia, New-Zealand)
  • (US) audio

Etymology

Attested since 1540, origin uncertain. Probably from Low German and Middle Low German lasich (“slack, feeble, lazy”), from las, from Old Saxon lask, from Proto-Germanic *lasiwaz, *laskaz (“feeble, weak”), from Proto-Indo-European *las- (“weak”). Akin to Dutch leuzig (“lazy”), German lässig (“casual, nonchalant, laid-back, easy-going”), Old Norse lasinn (“limpy, tired, weak”), Old English lesu, lysu (“false, evil, base”). More at lush. An alternative etymology traces lazy to Early Modern English laysy, a derivative of lay (plural lays + -y) in the same way that tipsy is derived from tip. See lay.

Meanings

  1. Unwilling to do work or make an effort; disinclined to exertion.
    • Get out of bed, you lazy lout!
    • "I'm too lazy," he said. "My wife says I'm the laziest man in all Oz, and she is a truthful woman. I hate work of any kind, and making a raft is hard work." 1913, L. Frank Baum, The Patchwork Girl of Oz, Chicago: The Reilly & Lee Co., published c. 1920, page 308:
    • If there bee any lasie fellow, any that cannot away with worke, any that would wallow in pleasures, hee is hastie to be priested. And when hee is made one, and has gotten a benefice, he consorts with his neighbour priests, who are altogether given to pleasures; and then both hee, and they, live, not like Christians, but like epicures; drinking, eating, feasting, and revelling, till the cow come home, as the saying is. 1610, Alexander Cooke, Pope Joane, in William Oldys, editor, The Harleian Miscellany: or, A Collection of Scarce, Curious, and Entertaining Pamphlets and Tracts, as well in Manuscript as in Print, Found in the Late Earl of Oxford's Library: Interspersed with Historical, Political, and Critical Notes: With a Table of the Contents, and an Alphabetical Index, volume IV, London: Printed for T[homas] Osborne, in Gray's-Inn, 1744, OCLC 5325177; republished as John Maltham, editor, The Harleian Miscellany; or, A Collection of Scarce, Curious, and Entertaining Pamphlets and Tracts, as well in Manuscript as in Print, Found in the Late Earl of Oxford's Library, Interspersed with Historical, Political, and Critical Notes, volume IV, London: Printed for R. Dutton, 1808–1811, OCLC 30776079, page 95
  2. Causing or characterised by idleness; relaxed or leisurely.
    • I love staying inside and reading on a lazy Sunday.
  3. Showing a lack of effort or care.
    • lazy writing
    • So it was this beautiful young woman Rokoff had been persecuting. Tarzan wondered in a lazy sort of way whom she might be, and what relations one so lovely could have with the surly, bearded Russian. 1913, Edgar Rice Burroughs, The Return of Tarzan, New York: Ballantine Books, published 1963, page 17:
  4. Sluggish; slow-moving.
    • We strolled along beside a lazy stream.
  5. Lax: ▸ Droopy.
    • a lazy-eared rabbit
  6. Lax: ▸ Of an eye, squinting because of a weakness of the eye muscles.
  7. (of a cattle brand) Turned so that (the letter) is horizontal instead of vertical.
    • There was probably more cattle bearing the Lazy S brand marketed than those of any other ranch in the world. 2010, The Trail Drivers of Texas:
    • The Zuliagas branded a Lazy B. In order to distinguish his cows from theirs for the drive back to Arizona, Mr. Day added a britchen brand across their butts, under their tails. 2002, American Cowboy, volume 9, number 3, page 60:
  8. Employing lazy evaluation; not calculating results until they are immediately required.
    • a lazy algorithm
  9. (UK, dialectal, obsolete) Wicked; vicious.
    • The swilland dropsy enter in The lazy cuke , and swell his skin 1641, Ben Jonson, The Sad Shepherd:

Forms

SpellingFeaturesLabelsSource
lazier Degree=Cmp lexicographic
laziest Degree=Sup lexicographic

Antonyms

active · diligent · industrious

Coordinates

flying

Deriveds

nonlazy · lazy river · lazy man's load · lazy ass · lazy battery effect · lazy load · lazy pinion · lazy initialisation · lazybutt · lazybones · lazy susan · lazy lobster · laze · lazyboy · lazy Lawrence · lazy evaluation · lazy susans · lazy S · lazy bed · lazyish · lazy painter · laziness · lazyitis · lazy jacks · lazy as Ludlam's dog · lazy Laurence · lazily · the quick brown fox jumps over the lazy dog · lazyload · lazy-arse · lazy-ass · lazy tongs · lazy Kate · lazy louse · unlazy · lazy initialization · lazy pierogi · lazy jack · lazy bones · lazy 8 · lazyback · lazyboots · lazy daisy · lazy eight · lazy eye · lazy Susan · lazyweb · lazy dog bomb · lazy girl job · lazy-bed · lazy dog

Hypernyms

inactive

Relateds

idler · doer · laziness · slow · shirk

Synonyms

sluggish · indolent (unwilling to work) · inert · bone-idle (unwilling to work) · lither · torpid · lackadaisical · swear · lazy · idle (unwilling to work) · slothful (unwilling to work) · fainéant · otiose · work-shy (unwilling to work)

Translations (227)

es mangansón (unwilling to work) · gl manguán (unwilling to work) · lad peresozo (unwilling to work) · fi rauhallinen (causing idleness; relaxed or leisurely) · pdt mooj (unwilling to work) · eo pigra (unwilling to work) · mi māngere (unwilling to work) · eo maldiligenta (showing a lack of effort or care) · bn অলস (unwilling to work) · atv йалты (unwilling to work) · es fiacún (unwilling to work) · tk temmel (unwilling to work) · gd dìomhain (unwilling to work) · ja 怠惰な (unwilling to work) · tl batugan (unwilling to work) · yue 懶 /懒 (unwilling to work) · bg мързели́в (unwilling to work) · es locho (unwilling to work) · sh лењ (unwilling to work) · ga leisciúil (unwilling to work) · gl bacaceiro (unwilling to work) · pl leniwy (unwilling to work) · es mangazón (unwilling to work) · ceb tapolan (unwilling to work) · hy ծույլ (unwilling to work) · es apoltronado (unwilling to work) · be ляні́вы (unwilling to work) · crh tenbel (unwilling to work) · ga drogallach (unwilling to work) · sw legevu (eye: squinting because of weak muscles) · nn doven (unwilling to work) · br lezireg (unwilling to work) · cmn 懶 /懒 (unwilling to work) · es holgazán (unwilling to work) · sv lat (causing idleness; relaxed or leisurely) · rm pigher (unwilling to work) · ilo nasadut (unwilling to work) · he עָצֵל (unwilling to work) · bcl hugakon (unwilling to work) · nl lui (unwilling to work) · haw moloā (unwilling to work) · txb ālase (unwilling to work) · cy diog (unwilling to work) · az tənbəl (unwilling to work) · sq prites (unwilling to work) · mi tūkeke (unwilling to work) · uk ліни́вий (unwilling to work) · az ərincək (unwilling to work) · ru затуманенное зре́ние (eye: squinting because of weak muscles) · atv дьалку (unwilling to work) · kw syger (unwilling to work) · et logardlik (unwilling to work) · es flojo (unwilling to work) · mr आळशी (unwilling to work) · bua залхуу (unwilling to work) · lad tembel (unwilling to work) · fi laiska (unwilling to work) · da lad (unwilling to work) · ckb تەممەڵ (unwilling to work) · hrx faul (unwilling to work) · sv lat (unwilling to work) · cmn 懶惰 /懒惰 (unwilling to work) · nrf pièrcheux (unwilling to work) · es indolente (unwilling to work) · hu rest (unwilling to work) · kl eqiattarpoq (unwilling to work) · cmn 懶 /懒 (unwilling to work) · mi mākoko (unwilling to work) · ug يالقاۋ (unwilling to work) · sq përtac (unwilling to work) · ang slāw (unwilling to work) · ga sámh (unwilling to work) · vi lười biếng (unwilling to work) · as লেধা (unwilling to work) · la ignāvus (unwilling to work) · se láiki (unwilling to work) · gl mandrión (unwilling to work) · es barzón (unwilling to work) · et laisk (unwilling to work) · la piger (unwilling to work) · nb lat (unwilling to work) · ms malas (unwilling to work) · mt għażżien (unwilling to work) · id malas (unwilling to work) · el τεμπέλης (unwilling to work) · ro indolent (unwilling to work) · got 𐌻𐌰𐍄𐍃 (unwilling to work) · es haragán (unwilling to work) · sv slö (unwilling to work) · crh erinçek (unwilling to work) · lv laisks (unwilling to work) · mk мрзлив (unwilling to work) · oc ociós (unwilling to work) · ota هایلاز (unwilling to work) · tl tamad (unwilling to work) · sh лен (unwilling to work) · bg лени́в (unwilling to work) · ro puturos (unwilling to work) · la sēgnis (unwilling to work) · fr fainéant (unwilling to work) · mnb malasi (unwilling to work) · is latur (unwilling to work) · it pigro (unwilling to work) · sq dembel (unwilling to work) · ur آلسی (unwilling to work) · pdt ful (unwilling to work) · tab темпел (unwilling to work) · ckt нывъяӄэн (unwilling to work) · hsb lěni (unwilling to work) · nn lat (unwilling to work) · pih hillie (unwilling to work) · lb faul (unwilling to work) · fi unelias (causing idleness; relaxed or leisurely) · tr tembel (unwilling to work) · gl larchán (unwilling to work) · fa لس (unwilling to work) · mn залхуу (unwilling to work) · tl patay-patay (unwilling to work) · fr paresseux (unwilling to work) · yi פֿױל (unwilling to work) · eo mallaborema (unwilling to work) · pag mangiras (unwilling to work) · gl lacazán (unwilling to work) · ca mandrós (unwilling to work) · arz كسلان (unwilling to work) · es echadote (unwilling to work) · mi makuku (unwilling to work) · es acostadote (unwilling to work) · gl macandón (unwilling to work) · bn চিঙ্গা (unwilling to work) · th ขี้เกียจ (unwilling to work) · ka ზარმაცი (unwilling to work) · dsb gniły (unwilling to work) · ar كَسْلَان (unwilling to work) · hi सुस्त (unwilling to work) · sa अलस (unwilling to work) · gl preguiceiro (unwilling to work) · sw legevu (unwilling to work) · cmn 弱視 /弱视 (eye: squinting because of weak muscles) · uk леда́чий (unwilling to work) · nb doven (unwilling to work) · mi pakihore (unwilling to work) · ga anábhailleach (unwilling to work) · km ខ្ជិល (unwilling to work) · lb liddereg (unwilling to work) · nrf ouaîsif (unwilling to work) · fo dovin (unwilling to work) · sk lenivý (unwilling to work) · ee kuvia (unwilling to work) · sh lenj (unwilling to work) · sv sömnig (causing idleness; relaxed or leisurely) · ro trândav (unwilling to work) · mi ngehe (unwilling to work) · ko 게으르다 (unwilling to work) · lt tingus (unwilling to work) · af lui (unwilling to work) · ovd lat (unwilling to work) · oc peresós (unwilling to work) · es poltrón (unwilling to work) · gl nugallán (unwilling to work) · sh len (unwilling to work) · ota تنبل (unwilling to work) · sh lijȇn (unwilling to work) · dsb lěniwy (unwilling to work) · mi huhure (unwilling to work) · mba tapulan (unwilling to work) · th เกียจคร้าน (unwilling to work) · pt preguiçoso (unwilling to work) · te సోమరి (unwilling to work) · zza êmıs (unwilling to work) · nl werkschuw (unwilling to work) · gd leisg (unwilling to work) · hi आलसी (unwilling to work) · nl lui (eye: squinting because of weak muscles) · hu lusta (unwilling to work) · es perezoso (unwilling to work) · zza tenbel (unwilling to work) · qu qilla (unwilling to work) · rm marsch (unwilling to work) · gv drollaneagh (unwilling to work) · ba ялҡау (unwilling to work) · ro leneș (unwilling to work) · fi karsastava (eye: squinting because of weak muscles) · sl lén (unwilling to work) · mer muthao (unwilling to work) · alt јалку (unwilling to work) · ca peresós (unwilling to work) · mi waimori (unwilling to work) · mi toupiore (unwilling to work) · vls leeg (unwilling to work) · da doven (unwilling to work) · to fakapikopiko (unwilling to work) · gl peilao (unwilling to work) · bar gstinkert (unwilling to work) · eu nagi (unwilling to work) · lad haragan (unwilling to work) · fo latur (unwilling to work) · ja ぐうたら (unwilling to work) · gl loirán (unwilling to work) · vi lười (unwilling to work) · es rácano (unwilling to work) · ru амблиопи (eye: squinting because of weak muscles) · te బద్ధకం (unwilling to work) · es vago (unwilling to work) · sv slapp (causing idleness; relaxed or leisurely) · kw diek (unwilling to work) · fi makaava (cattle brand: horizontal) · ta சோம்பல் (unwilling to work) · cs líný (unwilling to work) · fr inactif (causing idleness; relaxed or leisurely) · as এলেহুৱা (unwilling to work) · shy abexnis (unwilling to work) · ja ナマケモノ (unwilling to work) · tk ýalta (unwilling to work) · ru лени́вый (unwilling to work) · bo སྒྱིད་ལ་ངན་པོ (unwilling to work) · es manganzón (unwilling to work) · ug ھورۇن (unwilling to work) · gld албакто (unwilling to work) · mi pirorehe (unwilling to work) · chr ᎦᎾᎵ (unwilling to work) · sh лије̑н (unwilling to work) · gag dembel (unwilling to work) · km សិវៈ (causing idleness; relaxed or leisurely) · de faul (unwilling to work) · gl arlote (unwilling to work) · fa تَنبَل (unwilling to work)

lazy en · NOUN

Pronunciation

  • /ˈleɪ̯zi(ː)/ (General-American, Received-Pronunciation)
  • [ˈlæ̝ɪ̯zɪi̯] (Australia, New-Zealand)
  • [ˈleɪ̯zɪi̯] (General-American, Received-Pronunciation)
  • /ˈlæɪziː/ (Australia, New-Zealand)
  • (US) audio

Etymology

Attested since 1540, origin uncertain. Probably from Low German and Middle Low German lasich (“slack, feeble, lazy”), from las, from Old Saxon lask, from Proto-Germanic *lasiwaz, *laskaz (“feeble, weak”), from Proto-Indo-European *las- (“weak”). Akin to Dutch leuzig (“lazy”), German lässig (“casual, nonchalant, laid-back, easy-going”), Old Norse lasinn (“limpy, tired, weak”), Old English lesu, lysu (“false, evil, base”). More at lush. An alternative etymology traces lazy to Early Modern English laysy, a derivative of lay (plural lays + -y) in the same way that tipsy is derived from tip. See lay.

Meanings

  1. A lazy person.
    • Which myth of the Greek crisis would you like to debunk? — That the Greeks are a nation of lazies on a permanent vacation; that austerity measures, as they were implemented, were proportionally distributed or worth the sacrifice. 2016 May 11, Marta Bausells, Eleni Stefanou, “Meet the Greek writers revolutionising poetry in the age of austerity”, in The Guardian:
    • 1898, Jason E. Hammond, “Work and Reward” in Suggestive Programs for Special Day Exercises, Lansing, Michigan: Department of Public Instruction for District Schools, p. , The dudes and noodles, cads and snobs, had better move away, This busy land can’t spare the room for lazies, such as they, To foreign climate let them go and there forever stay. Ours is a land for busy workers.
    • The “lazies” of the party seized the opportunity of remaining behind—wandering, as they said, though all the cross paths were marked. 1874, David Livingstone, chapter 7, in The Last Journals of David Livingstone in Central Africa, from 1865 to his death, volume I, London: John Murray, page 159:
  2. (obsolete) Sloth (animal).
    • To strenuous minds there is an inquietude in overquietness, and no laboriousness in labour; and to tread a mile after the slow pace of a snail, or the heavy measures of the lazy of Brazilia, were a most tiring pennance, and worse than a race of some furlongs at the Olympicks. 1716, Thomas Browne, edited by Samuel Johnson, Christian Morals, 2nd edition, London: J. Payne, published 1756, pages 49–50:

Forms

SpellingFeaturesLabelsSource
lazies Number=Plur lexicographic

lazy en · VERB

Pronunciation

  • /ˈleɪ̯zi(ː)/ (General-American, Received-Pronunciation)
  • [ˈlæ̝ɪ̯zɪi̯] (Australia, New-Zealand)
  • [ˈleɪ̯zɪi̯] (General-American, Received-Pronunciation)
  • /ˈlæɪziː/ (Australia, New-Zealand)
  • (US) audio

Etymology

Attested since 1540, origin uncertain. Probably from Low German and Middle Low German lasich (“slack, feeble, lazy”), from las, from Old Saxon lask, from Proto-Germanic *lasiwaz, *laskaz (“feeble, weak”), from Proto-Indo-European *las- (“weak”). Akin to Dutch leuzig (“lazy”), German lässig (“casual, nonchalant, laid-back, easy-going”), Old Norse lasinn (“limpy, tired, weak”), Old English lesu, lysu (“false, evil, base”). More at lush. An alternative etymology traces lazy to Early Modern English laysy, a derivative of lay (plural lays + -y) in the same way that tipsy is derived from tip. See lay.

Meanings

  1. (informal) To laze, act in a lazy manner.
    • That same afternoon we were lazying around in a boat among the water-lilies at the edge of the bay. 1908, O. Henry, “The Memento”, in The Voice of the City, New York: McClure, page 239:
    • “Go to sea,” muttered Mr. Unity Peach. “Work for your living—don’t lazy away your time here!” 1842, George Cruikshank, Omnibus, London: Tilt & Bogue, page 79:
    • You’d see a muddy sow and a litter of pigs come lazying along the street and whollop herself right down in the way, where folks had to walk around her […] 1884 December 10, Mark Twain [pseudonym; Samuel Langhorne Clemens], “Chapter 21”, in The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn: (Tom Sawyer’s Comrade) […], London: Chatto & Windus, […], →OCLC:

Forms

SpellingFeaturesLabelsSource
lazies Number=Sing, Person=3, Tense=Pres lexicographic
lazying Tense=Pres, VerbForm=Part lexicographic
lazied Tense=Past, VerbForm=Part lexicographic
lazied Tense=Past lexicographic