Link Centre Dictionary

lazy

US/ˈleɪ̯zi(ː)/ common informal uk

adjective

1.

moving slowly and gently

  • “up a lazy river”
  • “lazy white clouds”
  • “at a lazy pace”
Similar
2.

disinclined to work or exertion

  • “faineant kings under whose rule the country languished”
  • “an indolent hanger-on”
  • “too lazy to wash the dishes”
  • “shiftless idle youth”
  • “slothful employees”
  • “the unemployed are not necessarily work-shy”
Synonyms
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Origin

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.

Phrases

  • lazy 8
  • lazy as Ludlam's dog
  • lazy ass
  • lazy battery effect
  • lazy bed
  • lazy bones
  • lazy daisy
  • lazy dog

Related words

Word family

WordNet 2.1 (Princeton University). Wiktionary (CC BY-SA). CMU Pronouncing Dictionary. WordNet 2.1 Copyright Princeton University. All rights reserved. Wiktionary content is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike Licence.