trifle

[trahy-fuhl]

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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).

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

Related formstri·fler, noun

Synonyms for trifle

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR trifle ON THESAURUS.COM

1. bauble, toy. 13. fritter.

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

Related Words for trifled

squander, dawdle, twiddle, coquet, wanton, monkey, doodle, putter, lounge, philander, waste, fool, play, dilly-dally, palter, toy, fidget, misuse, dally, dabble

Examples from the Web for trifled

Contemporary Examples of trifled

And a sharp chicken beak is nothing to be trifled with either.
What Did TJ Mean By “Pursuit of Happiness,” Anyway?
P. J. O’Rourke
June 8, 2014

Historical Examples of trifled

He could not bear to have her feel that he had trifled with her.
Questionable Shapes
William Dean Howells
It is a time when earnest men and women cannot be trifled with on soul concerns.
The Bay State Monthly, Vol. 1, Issue 1.
Various
Well, sir, about the inn: be at a word with me; for I'm not in a humour to be trifled with.
Tales And Novels, Volume 8 (of 10)
Maria Edgeworth
Also a low growl rumbled in his throat as warning that he was not to be trifled with.
White Fang
Jack London
In any case Jan should see that where his children were concerned he was not to be trifled with.
Jan and Her Job
L. Allen Harker

British Dictionary definitions for trifled

trifle

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 trifled

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.