'While' definitions:

Definition of 'while'

(from WordNet)
noun
A period of indeterminate length (usually short) marked by some action or condition; "he was here for a little while"; "I need to rest for a piece"; "a spell of good weather"; "a patch of bad weather" [syn: while, piece, spell, patch]

Definition of 'While'

From: GCIDE
  • While \While\, n. [AS. hw[imac]l; akin to OS. hw[imac]l, hw[imac]la, OFries. hw[imac]le, D. wigl, G. weile, OHG. w[imac]la, hw[imac]la, hw[imac]l, Icel. hv[imac]la a bed, hv[imac]ld rest, Sw. hvila, Dan. hvile, Goth. hweila a time, and probably to L. quietus quiet, and perhaps to Gr. ? the proper time of season. [root]20. Cf. Quiet, Whilom.]
  • 1. Space of time, or continued duration, esp. when short; a time; as, one while we thought him innocent. "All this while." --Shak. [1913 Webster]
  • This mighty queen may no while endure. --Chaucer. [1913 Webster]
  • [Some guest that] hath outside his welcome while, And tells the jest without the smile. --Coleridge. [1913 Webster]
  • I will go forth and breathe the air a while. --Longfellow. [1913 Webster]
  • 2. That which requires time; labor; pains. [Obs.] [1913 Webster]
  • Satan . . . cast him how he might quite her while. --Chaucer. [1913 Webster]
  • At whiles, at times; at intervals. [1913 Webster]
  • And so on us at whiles it falls, to claim Powers that we dread. --J. H. Newman. [1913 Webster]
  • The while, The whiles, in or during the time that; meantime; while. --Tennyson.
  • Within a while, in a short time; soon.
  • Worth while, worth the time which it requires; worth the time and pains; hence, worth the expense; as, it is not always worth while for a man to prosecute for small debts. [1913 Webster]

Definition of 'While'

From: GCIDE
  • While \While\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Whiled; p. pr. & vb. n. Whiling.] To cause to pass away pleasantly or without irksomeness or disgust; to spend or pass; -- usually followed by away. [1913 Webster]
  • The lovely lady whiled the hours away. --Longfellow. [1913 Webster]

Definition of 'While'

From: GCIDE
  • While \While\, v. i. To loiter. [R.] --Spectator. [1913 Webster]

Definition of 'While'

From: GCIDE
  • While \While\, conj.
  • 1. During the time that; as long as; whilst; at the same time that; as, while I write, you sleep. "While I have time and space." --Chaucer. [1913 Webster]
  • Use your memory; you will sensibly experience a gradual improvement, while you take care not to overload it. --I. Watts. [1913 Webster]
  • 2. Hence, under which circumstances; in which case; though; whereas. [1913 Webster]
  • While as, While that, during or at the time that. [Obs.] [1913 Webster]

Definition of 'While'

From: GCIDE
  • While \While\, prep. Until; till. [Obs. or Prov. Eng. & Scot.] [1913 Webster]
  • I may be conveyed into your chamber; I'll lie under your bed while midnight. --Beau. & Fl. [1913 Webster]

Synonyms of 'while'

From: Moby Thesaurus