Trifle

Quick meaning: Trifle is a noun meaning (cooking) An English dessert made from a mixture of thick custard, fruit, sponge cake, jelly and whipped cream.

Meaning

(cooking) An English dessert made from a mixture of thick custard, fruit, sponge cake, jelly and whipped cream.

More Meanings

1. (figurative) Anything that is of little importance or worth.
2. (figurative) A very small amount (of something).
3. A particular kind of pewter.
4. (uncountable) Utensils made from this particular kind of pewter.
5. (intransitive) To deal with something as if it were of little importance or worth.
6. (intransitive) To act, speak, or otherwise behave with jest.
7. (intransitive) To inconsequentially toy with something.

Example Sentences

“Take just a trifle of French mustard […]”

Trifles light as air / Are to the jealous confirmation strong / As proofs of holy writ.

‘And all about a rattle!’ said Alice, still hoping to make them a little ashamed of fighting for such a trifle.

It is interesting to watch the surface joviality on screen while racism is layered between courses like soggy trifles.

Word Forms

• trifles
• trifling
• trifled

Synonyms for trifle

Depending on context, synonyms include bagatelle, bric-a-brac, dicky, dicky-bird, fico, fig.

Related Words

Related dictionary entries include piddle, play, dally, frivol, triviality, wanton.

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