Lexic.us

Definition of Trifle

1. Verb. Waste time; spend one's time idly or inefficiently.

2. Noun. A cold pudding made of layers of sponge cake spread with fruit or jelly; may be decorated with nuts, cream, or chocolate.

3. Verb. Act frivolously.

4. Noun. A detail that is considered insignificant.

5. Verb. Consider not very seriously. "Sam wants to trifle with Sue "; "She plays with the thought of moving to Tasmania"

6. Noun. Something of small importance.

Definition of Trifle

1. n. A thing of very little value or importance; a paltry, or trivial, affair.

2. v. i. To act or talk without seriousness, gravity, weight, or dignity; to act or talk with levity; to indulge in light or trivial amusements.

3. v. t. To make of no importance; to treat as a trifle.

Definition of Trifle

1. Noun. An English dessert made from a mixture of thick custard, fruit, sponge cake, jelly and whipped cream. ¹

2. Noun. An insignificant amount. ¹

3. Noun. Anything that is of little importance or worth. ¹

4. Noun. A particular kind of pewter. ¹

5. Noun. utensils made from this particular kind of pewter. ¹

6. Verb. (intransitive) To deal with something as if it were of little importance or worth. ¹

7. Verb. (intransitive) To act, speak, or otherwise behave with jest. ¹

8. Verb. (intransitive) To inconsequentially toy with something. ¹

9. Verb. (transitive) To squander or waste. ¹

¹ Source: wiktionary.com

Definition of Trifle

1. to waste time [v -FLED, -FLING, -FLES]

Medical Definition of Trifle

1. 1. A thing of very little value or importance; a paltry, or trivial, affair. "With such poor trifles playing." (Drayton) "Trifles light as air Are to the jealous confirmation strong As proofs of holy writ." (Shak) "Small sands the mountain, moments make year, And frifles life." (Young) 2. A dish composed of sweetmeats, fruits, cake, wine, etc, with syllabub poured over it. Origin: OE. Trifle, trufle, OF. Trufle mockery, raillery, trifle, probably the same word as F. Truffe truffle, the word being applied to any small or worthless object. See Truffle. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998)

Lexicographical Neighbors of Trifle

triff triffer triffest triffic triffid triffids triffidy trifid trifid beggar-ticks trifid bur marigold

trifistulary triflate triflates triflation triflavin trifle away trifle with trifled trifler triflers

trifles triflic triflic acid triflimide trifling triflingly triflingness triflings triflorous

Literary usage of Trifle

Below you will find example usage of this term as found in modern and/or classical literature:

1. Diary of the American Revolution: From Newspapers and Original Documents by Frank Moore (1860)
"... the whole of which the militia captured; it is a trifle, but it is a trifle that was very prettily done. ..."

2. The Autobiography of Benvenuto Cellini by Benvenuto Cellini (1910)
"The miserly official found a stone rising a trifle above sixty crowns, and let it be heard that it was worth upwards of two hundred. ..."

Other Resources: