“while” – English explanatory dictionary

noun 1. some time ○ It’s a while since I’ve seen him. □ in a while in a short time, soon ○ I’ll be ready in a while. □ a little while short period of time ○ Do you mind waiting a little while until a table is free? □ quite a while a longer period of time ○ He changed jobs quite a while ago. □ once in a while from time to time, but not often ○ It’s nice to go to have an Indian meal once in a while. 2. □ to be worth someone’s while to be worth doing ○ It’s worth your while keeping copies of your work, in case your computer goes wrong. [ worthwhile ■ conj 1. when, at the time that ○ He tried to cut my hair while he was watching TV. ○ While we were on holiday someone broke into our house. ○ Shall I clean the kitchen while you’re having a bath? 2. showing difference ○ He likes meat, while his sister is a vegetarian. ○ She only earns £120 a week while everyone else in the office earns twice that. ○ Everyone is watching TV, while I’m in the kitchen making the dinner. 3. although ○ While there may still be delays, the service is much better than it used to be.

n. [AS. hwil; akin to OS. hwil, hwila, OFries. hwile, D. wigl, G. weile, OHG. wila, hwila, hwil, Icel. hvila a bed, hvild rest, Sw. hvila, Dan. hvile, Goth. hweila a time, and probably to L. quietus quiet, and perhaps to Gr. the proper time of season. rad.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. “This mighty queen may no while endure.” Chaucer. “[Some guest that] hath outside his welcome while,
And tells the jest without the smile.” Coleridge. “I will go forth and breathe the air a while.” Longfellow.
2. That which requires time; labor; pains. [Obs.] “Satan … cast him how he might quite her while.” Chaucer. At whiles, at times; at intervals. “And so on us at whiles it falls, to claim
Powers that we dread.” J. H. Newman. — 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.

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. “The lovely lady whiled the hours away.” Longfellow.

v. i. To loiter. [R.] Spectator.

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. “Use your memory; you will sensibly experience a gradual improvement, while you take care not to overload it.” I. Watts.
2. Hence, under which circumstances; in which case; though; whereas. While as, While that, during or at the time that. [Obs.]