trifle

[trahy-fuhl]

noun

1. an article or thing of very little value.

   Synonyms: toy, bauble

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

3. a small, inconsiderable, or trifling sum of money.

4. a small quantity or amount of anything; a little.

   She's still a trifle angry.

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

6. a kind of pewter of medium hardness.

7. trifles, articles made of this.

8. 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)

trifled, trifling 

1. to deal lightly or without due seriousness or respect.

   Don't trifle with me!

2. to play or toy by handling or fingering.

   He sat trifling with a pen.

3. to act or talk in an idle or frivolous way.

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

verb (used with object)

trifled, trifling 

1. to pass or spend (time) idly or frivolously (usually followed byaway ).

   Synonyms: fritter

trifle

/ ˈtraɪfəl /

noun

1. a thing of little or no value or significance

2. a small amount; bit

   a trifle more enthusiasm

3. 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

4. a type of pewter of medium hardness

5. articles made from this pewter

verb

1. to deal (with) as if worthless; dally

   to trifle with a person's affections

2. to waste (time) frivolously

Other Word Forms

• trifler noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of trifle¹

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of trifle¹

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

Example Sentences

Enter the trifle, a dessert that doesn’t get nearly enough credit for its multipurpose holiday charm.

Read more on Salon

Rachel attempts to help with the cooking, creating a trifle that includes custard, jam, beef and peas.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Still on my must-try list: a gingerbread-cranberry cheesecake trifle at Disneyland’s Jolly Holiday Bakery Cafe and the gingerbread pancakes at River Belle Terrace.

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“Pardon me, sir,” Penelope repeated, rather forcefully, for a Swanburne girl in high dudgeon is nothing to trifle with.

Read more on Literature

As the judge in that case noted, the law is not concerned with insignificant trifles.

Read more on Los Angeles Times