Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary
while (noun)1.
a period of time especially when short and marked by the occurrence of an action or a condition - time stay here for a while
2.
the time and effort used (as in the performance of an action) - trouble worth your while
1.
a) during the time that - take a nap while I'm out
b) as long as - while there's life there's hope
2.
a) when on the other hand - whereas easy for an expert, while it is dangerous for a novice
b) in spite of the fact that - although while respected, he is not liked
3.
similarly and at the same time that - while the book will be welcomed by scholars, it will make an immediate appeal to the general reader British Book News
dialect British - until
transitive verb
to cause to pass especially without boredom or in a pleasant manner - usually used with away while away the time
Merriam-Webster Online Thesaurus
while (conjunction)1.
at or during the time that
SYNONIMS:
as, so long as, while, whilstNEAR ANTONYMS:
after2.
in spite of the fact that
SYNONIMS:
albeit, as, howbeit, much as, notwithstanding, though, when, whereas, while, whilstRELATED WORDS:
but, if1.
an indefinite but usually short period of time
SYNONIMS:
bit, space, spell, stretchRELATED WORDS:
lapse; season, span; day, epoch, era; beat, eyeblink, flash, heartbeat, instant, jiff, jiffy, minute, moment, nanosecond, New York minute, second, shake, split second, spurt, trice, twinkle, twinkling, wink; aeon ( eon), age, eternity, infinity, perpetuity; interim, interlude, intermission, interval2.
the active use of energy in producing a result
SYNONIMS:
elbow grease, exertion, expenditure, labor, pains, sweat, trouble, while, workRELATED WORDS:
drudgery, grind, slog, strain, toil, travail; dint, energy; force, might, muscle, power, puissance; attempt, endeavor, essay, fling, go, pass, shot, stab, trial, try, whackNEAR ANTONYMS:
adroitness, ease, facility, fluency, smoothness; dormancy, idleness, inaction, inactivity, indolence, inertia, languor, laziness, quiescence