trifle

[ trahy-fuhl ]

/ ˈtraɪ fəl /

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR trifle ON THESAURUS.COM

noun

an article or thing of very little value.

a matter, affair, or circumstance of trivial importance or significance.

a small, inconsiderable, or trifling sum of money.

a small quantity or amount of anything; a little: She's still a trifle angry.

a literary, musical, or artistic work of a light or trivial character having no great or lasting merit; bagatelle.

a kind of pewter of medium hardness.

trifles, articles made of this.

English Cooking. a dessert usually consisting of custard and cake soaked in wine or liqueur, and jam, fruit, or the like.

verb (used without object), tri·fled, tri·fling.

to deal lightly or without due seriousness or respect: Don't trifle with me!

to play or toy by handling or fingering: He sat trifling with a pen.

to act or talk in an idle or frivolous way.

to pass time idly or frivolously; waste time; idle.

verb (used with object), tri·fled, tri·fling.

to pass or spend (time) idly or frivolously (usually followed by away).

Nearby words

Origin of trifle

1175–1225; (noun) Middle English tru(f)fle idle talk, deceit < Old French, variant of truf(f)e mockery, deceit; (v.) Middle English treoflen to mock < Old French trufler to make sport of

SYNONYMS FOR trifle

1. bauble, toy. 13. fritter.

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR trifle ON THESAURUS.COM

Related formstri·fler, noun

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for trifle

This list will also likely include petit fours, mini éclairs, trifle, and chocolate and lemon mousse.
Royal Wedding Plans So Far for Prince William|Barbie Latza Nadeau, Jacqueline Williams|February 22, 2011|DAILY BEAST
It should be soft and light enough to spread easily over the top of the trifle in a not-too-thick layer.
Ham, Green Bean Casserole, Easy Trifle|The Daily Beast|December 23, 2008|DAILY BEAST
You are overflowing with repressed energy, Marjorie, Mrs. Dean said, looking a trifle anxious.
Marjorie Dean College Freshman|Pauline Lester
"Yes, yes; quite so," I said, speaking perhaps a trifle impatiently.
Those Times And These|Irvin S. Cobb

Everybody looked upon him as a harmless old man, a trifle eccentric, and a great walker.
Spies of the Kaiser|William Le Queux
My son, my son, do not trifle with us in this our hour of trial.
The Galaxy, Volume 23, No. 2, February, 1877|Various
The attorney was in that state of fatigue of body and languor of mind in which the least trifle amuses.
The Castle Inn|Stanley John Weyman

British Dictionary definitions for trifle

trifle

/ (ˈtraɪfəl) /

noun

a thing of little or no value or significance

a small amount; bita trifle more enthusiasm

British a cold dessert made with sponge cake spread with jam or fruit, soaked in wine or sherry, covered with a custard sauce and cream, and decorated

a type of pewter of medium hardness

articles made from this pewter

verb

(intr usually foll by with) to deal (with) as if worthless; dallyto trifle with a person's affections

to waste (time) frivolously

Derived Formstrifler, noun

Word Origin for trifle

C13: from Old French trufle mockery, from trufler to cheat

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for trifle

trifle

early 13c., trufle "false or idle tale," later "matter of little importance" (late 13c.), from Old French trufle "mockery," diminutive of truffe "deception," of uncertain origin.

trifle

"treat lightly," 1520s, from trifle (n.). Related: Trifled; trifling.

trifle

noun

verb (used without object), tri·fled, tri·fling.

verb (used with object), tri·fled, tri·fling.

RELATED WORDS

Nearby words

Origin of trifle

Examples from the Web for trifle

trifle

noun

verb

Word Origin for trifle

trifle

trifle