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

Example Sentences

"I remember coming here with my mum to buy trifle and she used to buy chocolate cakes here for me and my brother on our birthdays."

From BBC

A touch bewildered, a trifle unsteady on his feet.

From BBC

That Oscar-nominated film is far more gentle and sincere than “Challengers,” a trim, naughty, ferociously well-acted trifle about characters more likely to scrawl something foul on a bathroom stall than quote Heraclitus.

From Los Angeles Times

“Could you raise your head a trifle?” he asked again.

From Literature

‘All of our country and for a very trifle’

From Seattle Times