TRIFLE
Dictionary entry overview: What does trifle mean?
• TRIFLE (noun)
The noun TRIFLE has 3 senses:
1. sponge cake spread with jam and soaked in wine; served with a custard sauce
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)
Meaning:
Sponge cake spread with jam and soaked in wine; served with a custard sauce
Classified under:
Nouns denoting foods and drinks
Hypernyms ("trifle" is a kind of...):
afters; dessert; sweet (a dish served as the last course of a meal)
Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "trifle"):
tipsy cake (a trifle soaked in wine and decorated with almonds and candied fruit)
Meaning:
A detail that is considered insignificant
Classified under:
Nouns denoting cognitive processes and contents
Synonyms:
technicality; triviality; trifle
Hypernyms ("trifle" is a kind of...):
detail; item; point (an isolated fact that is considered separately from the whole)
Meaning:
Something of small importance
Classified under:
Nouns denoting man-made objects
Synonyms:
small beer; trivia; trifle; 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)
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...):
pass; spend (pass (time) in a specific way)
Sentence frame:
Somebody ----s
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
Meaning:
Consider not very seriously
Classified under:
Verbs of thinking, judging, analyzing, doubting
Synonyms:
trifle; dally; play
Context examples:
He is trifling with her / 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)
Sentence frame:
Somebody ----s PP
Sentence example:
Sam wants to trifle with Sue
