trifle

Noun · Verb
Synonyms: technicalitytrivialitytriviasmall beerpiddlewantonwanton awaypiddle awayfrivoldallyplay

WordNet 3.0

Noun (3)

  1. a cold pudding made of layers of sponge cake spread with fruit or jelly; may be decorated with nuts, cream, or chocolate
  2. a detail that is considered insignificantSynonyms: technicalitytriviality
  3. something of small importanceSynonyms: trivialitytriviasmall beer

Verb (3)

  1. waste time; spend one's time idly or inefficientlySynonyms: piddlewantonwanton awaypiddle away
  2. act frivolouslySynonyms: frivol
  3. consider not very seriously“He is trifling with her”“She plays with the thought of moving to Tasmania”Synonyms: dallyplay
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Webster's Dictionary (GCIDE)

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]

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, or trivial, affair. [1913 Webster]

With such poor trifles playing.— Drayton.[1913 Webster]
Trifles light as air Are to the jealous confirmation strong As proofs of holy writ.— Shak.[1913 Webster]
Small sands the mountain, moments make year, And frifles life.— Young.[1913 Webster]

2.A dish composed of sweetmeats, fruits, cake, wine, etc., with syllabub poured over it. [1913 Webster]

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. [1913 Webster]

They trifle, and they beat the air about nothing which toucheth us. --Hooker. [1913 Webster]

To trifle with, to play the fool with; to treat without respect or seriousness; to mock; as, to trifle with one's feelings, or with sacred things. [1913 Webster]

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