trifle

UK: /ˈtraɪf^əl/ US: /ˈtraɪfəl/ ,(trī′fəl)

Inflections of 'trifle' (v): (⇒ conjugate)

trifles

v 3rd person singular

trifling

v pres p

trifled

v past

trifled

v past p

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2025

tri•fle /ˈtraɪfəl/   n., v., -fled, -fling. 
n. [countable]

1. something of very little value:
   buying little trifles for the kids.
2. a small amount of anything, as of money.
3. Food a dessert of cake soaked in liqueur, then combined with custard, fruit, jam, etc., and topped with whipped cream.

v. [~ + with + object]

4. to deal without seriousness or respect:
   Don't trifle with me!
5. to play with by handling or fingering:
   He sat trifling with a pen.

Idioms

6. Idioms a trifle, to a small degree;
   somewhat:
   He's still a trifle angry.

tri•fler, n. [countable]

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

tri•fle  (trī′fəl), n., v., -fled, -fling. 
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).

• Old French trufler to make sport of
• Old French, variant of truf(f )e mockery, deceit; (verb, verbal) Middle English treoflen to mock
• (noun, nominal) Middle English tru(f )fle idle talk, deceit 1175–1225

tri ′fler, n. 
Synonyms

• 1. bauble, toy.
• 13. fritter.

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

trifle / ˈtraɪf^əl/ noun

1. a thing of little or no value or significance
2. a small amount; bit: a trifle more enthusiasm
3. a cold dessert made with sponge cake spread with jam or fruit, soaked in wine or sherry, covered with a custard sauce and cream, and decorated

verb

1. (intransitive) usually followed by with: to deal (with) as if worthless; dally: to trifle with a person's affections
2. to waste (time) frivolously

Etymology: 13th Century: from Old French trufle mockery, from trufler to cheat

ˈtrifler noun