trifle

trifle
trifler, n.
/truy"feuhl/, n., v., trifled, trifling.
n.
1. an article or thing of very little value.
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 Cookery. a dessert usually consisting of custard and cake soaked in wine or liqueur, and jam, fruit, or the like.
v.i.
9. to deal lightly or without due seriousness or respect: Don't trifle with me!
10. to play or toy by handling or fingering: He sat trifling with a pen.
11. to act or talk in an idle or frivolous way.
12. to pass time idly or frivolously; waste time; idle.
v.t.
13. to pass or spend (time) idly or frivolously (usually fol. by away).
[1175-1225; (n.) ME tru(f)fle idle talk, deceit < OF, var. of truf(f)e mockery, deceit; (v.) ME treoflen to mock < OF trufler to make sport of]
Syn. 1. bauble, toy. 13. fritter.

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Universalium. 2010.

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  • Trifle — Trifle. Ilustraciones realizadas por Isabella Beeton en su libro Mrs Beeton s Book of House …   Wikipedia Español

  • Trifle — ist eine englische Süßspeise, bestehend aus mehreren Schichten aus Custard, Obst oder Marmelade, Biskuitkuchen und Schlagsahne. Der Biskuit wird im Allgemeinen mit Alkohol getränkt (Port, süßen Sherry, Madeira oder auch Weißwein). Das Wort Trifle …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • Trifle — Autre nom Créole Lieu d origine Angleterre Place dans le service dessert Température de …   Wikipédia en Français

  • Trifle — Tri fle, v. i. [imp. & p. p. {Trifled}; p. pr. & vb. n. {Trifling}.] [OE. trifelen, truflen. See {Trifle}, n.] To act or talk without seriousness, gravity, weight, or dignity; to act or talk with levity; to indulge in light or trivial amusements …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • trifle — trifle, toy, dally, flirt, coquet can all mean to deal with a person or thing without seriousness, earnestness, close attention, or purpose. Trifle, the most comprehensive term of the group, may be used interchangeably with any of the others,… …   New Dictionary of Synonyms

  • trifle — [trī′fəl] n. [ME < OFr trufle, mockery, dim. of truffe, deception] 1. something of little value or importance; trivial thing, idea, etc.; paltry matter 2. a small amount of money 3. a small amount or degree; bit 4. esp. in England, a dessert… …   English World dictionary

  • Trifle — Tri fle, v. t. 1. To make of no importance; to treat as a trifle. [Obs.] Shak. [1913 Webster] 2. To spend in vanity; to fritter away; to waste; as, to trifle away money. We trifle time. Shak. [1913 Webster] …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Trifle — Tri fle, n. [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}.] 1. A thing of very little value or importance; a paltry,… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • trifle — [n1] novelty item bagatelle, bauble, bibelot, curio, gewgaw*, knickknack, nothing*, novelty, objet d’art, plaything, toy, trinket, triviality, whatnot*; concept 446 trifle [n2] very small amout bit, dash, diddly*, drop, eyelash*, fly speck*,… …   New thesaurus

  • trifle — ► NOUN 1) a thing of little value or importance. 2) a small amount. 3) Brit. a cold dessert of sponge cake and fruit covered with layers of custard, jelly, and cream. ► VERB 1) (trifle with) treat without seriousness or respect. 2) archaic ta …   English terms dictionary

  • trifle — index palter, paucity, pettifog, scintilla, technicality Burton s Legal Thesaurus. William C. Burton. 2006 …   Law dictionary

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