1. A period of time: stay for a while; sang all the while. See Usage Note at awhile. 2. The time, effort, or trouble taken in doing something: The project wasn't worth my while.
CONJUNCTION:
1. As long as; during the time that: It was lovely while it lasted.2. At the same time that; although: While the grandparents love the children, they are strict with them.3. Whereas; and: The soles are leather, while the uppers are canvas.
TRANSITIVE VERB:
Inflected forms: whiled, whil·ing, whiles To spend (time) idly or pleasantly: while the hours away.
ETYMOLOGY:
Middle English, from Old English hwl. See kwei- in Appendix I.
hw
l, 
- in Appendix I.
