TRIFLE

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

IPA (US):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does trifle mean? 

• TRIFLE (noun)
  The noun TRIFLE has 3 senses:

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 insignificant

3. something of small importance

  Familiarity information: TRIFLE used as a noun is uncommon.

• TRIFLE (verb)
  The verb TRIFLE has 3 senses:

1. waste time; spend one's time idly or inefficiently

2. act frivolously

3. consider not very seriously

  Familiarity information: TRIFLE used as a verb is uncommon.

 Dictionary entry details 

• TRIFLE (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

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

Classified under:

Nouns denoting foods and drinks

Hypernyms ("trifle" is a kind of...):

pud; pudding ((British) the dessert course of a meal ('pud' is used informally))

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "trifle"):

tipsy cake (a trifle soaked in wine and decorated with almonds and candied fruit)

Sense 2

Meaning:

A detail that is considered insignificant

Classified under:

Nouns denoting cognitive processes and contents

Synonyms:

trifle; triviality

Hypernyms ("trifle" is a kind of...):

detail; item; point (an isolated fact that is considered separately from the whole)

Sense 3

Meaning:

Something of small importance

Classified under:

Nouns denoting man-made objects

Synonyms:

small beer; trifle; trivia; triviality

Hypernyms ("trifle" is a kind of...):

object; physical object (a tangible and visible entity; an entity that can cast a shadow)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "trifle"):

bagatelle; fluff; frippery; frivolity (something of little value or significance)

• TRIFLE (verb)

Present simple: I / you / we / they trifle    ... he / she / it trifles   
Past simple: trifled   
Past participle: trifled   
-ing form: trifling   

Sense 1

Meaning:

Waste time; spend one's time idly or inefficiently

Classified under:

Verbs of being, having, spatial relations

Synonyms:

piddle; piddle away; trifle; wanton; wanton away

Hypernyms (to "trifle" is one way to...):

drop; expend; spend (pay out)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s

Derivation:

trifling (the deliberate act of delaying and playing instead of working)

Sense 2

Meaning:

Act frivolously

Classified under:

Verbs of political and social activities and events

Synonyms:

frivol; trifle

Hypernyms (to "trifle" is one way to...):

act; behave; do (behave in a certain manner; show a certain behavior; conduct or comport oneself)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s

Derivation:

trifler (one who behaves lightly or not seriously)

Sense 3

Meaning:

Consider not very seriously

Classified under:

Verbs of thinking, judging, analyzing, doubting

Synonyms:

dally; play; trifle

Context example:

She plays with the thought of moving to Tasmania

Hypernyms (to "trifle" is one way to...):

consider; deal; look at; take (take into consideration for exemplifying purposes)

Verb group:

dally; flirt; play; toy (behave carelessly or indifferently)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s PP

Sentence example:

Sam wants to trifle with Sue

 Context examples 

I have nobody else to care for, but I should be very glad to think I could leave a little trifle among them worth their having.

(Mansfield Park, by Jane Austen)

And how of the heap of trifles that you can see for yourselves in yonder corner?

(The White Company, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

“A trifle more of that man,” he would say, “and I shall explode.”

(Treasure Island, by Robert Louis Stevenson)

“Then you are fretting about General Tilney, and that is very simple of you; for ten to one whether you ever see him again. You should never fret about trifles.”

(Northanger Abbey, by Jane Austen)

But while so many were devoting him to Emma, and Emma herself making him over to Harriet, Mr. Knightley began to suspect him of some inclination to trifle with Jane Fairfax.

(Emma, by Jane Austen)

He received it with abundance of thanks, more than such a trifle could deserve.

(Gulliver's Travels into several remote nations of the world, by Jonathan Swift)

I cannot trifle, or be trifled with.

(David Copperfield, by Charles Dickens)

It’s not a time to stick at trifles.

(His Last Bow, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

On the other hand, it's very likely to make my relations with Ruth's family a trifle awkward.

(Martin Eden, by Jack London)

“My will? Yes, certainly, I know that,” said the doctor, a trifle sharply.

(The Strange Case Of Dr. Jekyll And Mr. Hyde, by Robert Louis Stevenson)