trifle
- 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 Cookery. a dessert usually consisting of custard and cake soaked in wine or liqueur, and jam, fruit, or the like.
- 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.
- to pass or spend (time) idly or frivolously (usually followed by away).
Origin of trifle
Synonyms for trifle
See more synonyms for on Thesaurus.comRelated Words for trifle
toy, triviality, novelty, trinket, gewgaw, nothing, knickknack, curio, bauble, bagatelle, plaything, whatnot, speck, dash, touch, suggestion, little, squat, hint, suspicionExamples from the Web for trifle
Contemporary Examples of trifle
This list will also likely include petit fours, mini éclairs, trifle, and chocolate and lemon mousse.
Royal Wedding Plans So Far for Prince WilliamBarbie Latza Nadeau, Jacqueline Williams
February 22, 2011
It should be soft and light enough to spread easily over the top of the trifle in a not-too-thick layer.
Historical Examples of trifle
They thought their own habits and customs just a trifle better than those of anybody else.
Ancient ManHendrik Willem van Loon
Grace's laugh sounded a trifle shaky, but it was a laugh nevertheless.
Grace Harlowe's Return to Overton CampusJessie Graham Flower
The next thing was to borrow a trifle of what was passing through his hands.
Weighed and WantingGeorge MacDonald
Any trifle will serve—a purse of gold, or even a jewelled goblet.
The White CompanyArthur Conan Doyle
She was a trifle subdued, with a puzzled look in her blue eyes.
KMary Roberts Rinehart
trifle
- 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
- (intr usually foll by with) to deal (with) as if worthless; dallyto trifle with a person's affections
- to waste (time) frivolously
Word Origin for trifle
Word Origin and History for 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.
"treat lightly," 1520s, from trifle (n.). Related: Trifled; trifling.