trifle

¹tri·fle

noun \ˈtrī-fəl\

Definition of TRIFLE

1

: something of little value, substance, or importance

2

: a dessert typically consisting of plain or sponge cake often soaked with wine or spirits (as brandy or rum) and topped with layers of preserves, custard, and cream

— a trifle

: to some small degree : slightly <a trifle annoyed>

Examples of TRIFLE

1. There's no reason to argue over such trifles.
2. The money is a mere trifle to me.

Origin of TRIFLE

Middle English trufle, trifle, from Anglo-French trufle, triffle fraud, trick, nonsense

First Known Use: 14th century

Related to TRIFLE

Synonyms

bagatelle, child's play, frippery, nonproblem, nothing, picayune, shuck(s), small beer, small change, triviality

Related Words

naught (also nought), nothingness, smoke, zero; peanuts, pittance, song, straw, two bits; bunk, claptrap, drivel, folly, fribble, fudge, hogwash, humbug, humbuggery, nonsense, piffle, rot, trash, trivia; bit, crumb, dab, dram, lick, mite, ounce, particle, pinhead, scintilla, shred, smidgen (also smidgeon or smidgin or smidge), soupçon, speck, spot, tad, touch, trace

Other Food Terms

Reuben, calamari, chuck, curry, edamame, foie gras, hummus, leaven, nonpareil, peel

Rhymes with TRIFLE

rifle, stifle

²trifle

verb

tri·fledtri·fling \-f(ə-)liŋ\

Definition of TRIFLE

intransitive verb

1

a : to talk in a jesting or mocking manner or with intent to delude or mislead

b : to treat someone or something as unimportant

2

: to handle something idly

transitive verb

: to spend or waste in trifling or on trifles

— tri·fler \-f(ə-)lər\ noun

Examples of TRIFLE

1. <do not trifle with me unless you mean to ask me to marry you>
2. <spent a lazy afternoon trifling on the front porch>

Origin of TRIFLE

Middle English truflen, triflen, from Anglo-French trufler to trick, talk nonsense

First Known Use: 14th century

Related to TRIFLE

Synonyms

coquet (or coquette), dally, frivol, mess around, toy, flirt

Related Words

vamp; court, mash, woo; josh, kid, put on, razz, rib, tease; fool, lead on, string along; manipulate, play (with)

Near Antonyms

buckle (down), knuckle down, set (to), settle (down)

Synonym Discussion of TRIFLE

trifle, toy, dally, flirt, coquet mean to deal with or act toward without serious purpose. trifle may imply playfulness, unconcern, indulgent contempt <to trifle with a lover's feelings>. toy implies acting without full attention or serious exertion of one's powers <a political novice toying with great issues>. dally suggests indulging in thoughts or plans merely as an amusement <dallying with the idea of building a boat someday>. flirt implies an interest or attention that soon passes to another object <flirted with one fashionable ism after another>. coquet implies attracting interest or admiration without serious intention <companies that coquet with environmentalism solely for public relations>.