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

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

From Los Angeles Times

It’s hard to be charmed, hard to think of a movie as a delightful trifle, when you’re so conscious of how hard the filmmakers are working to make it charming.

From Salon

Layer it all in a shallow casserole dish or, if you’re feeling theatrical, a glass trifle dish, so the strata show through like geological layers of flavors.

From Salon

“Baking should spark joy for both the maker and the recipient. There’s room for a trifle and a heart-shaped Lambeth cake. One doesn’t cancel the other.”

From Salon

His eyes are maybe a trifle close set, his lips a little thin.

From Los Angeles Times