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)

, tri·fled, tri·fling.

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)

, tri·fled, tri·fling.

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

   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. intrusually foll bywith to deal (with) as if worthless; dally

   to trifle with a person's affections

2. to waste (time) frivolously

Derived Forms

• ˈtrifler, noun

Other Words From

• trifler 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