noun
C2
Proficient
trifle
TREYE-fuhl
Trifle (noun) means a British dessert layered with sponge cake, custard, fruit, jelly, and whipped cream. Example: “Grandma always makes a sherry trifle at Christmas.”
noun
1
A British dessert layered with sponge cake, custard, fruit, jelly, and whipped cream.
"Grandma always makes a sherry trifle at Christmas."
2
Something of little importance or value.
"Don't get upset over such a trifle."
verb
1
To treat something, or someone, without proper seriousness.
"Don't trifle with her feelings."
How to use trifle
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishEither the layered dessert, or a small, unimportant thing — as a verb, to treat something carelessly or toy with it.
Common pairings
trifle with
a mere trifle
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Word forms
- Plural
- trifles
- Third person singular
- trifles
- Past tense
- trifled
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
Grandma always makes a sherry _____ at Christmas.
Etymology
From Old French trufle, related to truffe ("deception"); the origin beyond that is uncertain.
Synonyms
View more →Antonyms
Related words
Rhymes for trifle
See all rhymes for trifle →Frequently asked questions
What does “trifle” mean?
The word “trifle” means a British dessert layered with sponge cake, custard, fruit, jelly, and whipped cream. In plain terms, either the layered dessert, or a small, unimportant thing — as a verb, to treat something carelessly or toy with it.
How do you pronounce “trifle”?
“Trifle” is pronounced TREYE-fuhl (/ˈtɹaɪfəl/ in IPA).
How do you use “trifle” in a sentence?
Here is “trifle” used in a sentence: “Grandma always makes a sherry trifle at Christmas.”
What is another word for “trifle”?
Words with a similar meaning to “trifle” include bagatelle, bag of shells, bric-a-brac, dicky, dicky-bird and fico.
What part of speech is “trifle”?
Depending on how it is used, “trifle” can be a noun and a verb.
Where does the word “trifle” come from?
The word “trifle” comes from Old French. From Old French trufle, related to truffe ("deception"); the origin beyond that is uncertain.
How many meanings does “trifle” have?
“Trifle” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a British dessert layered with sponge cake, custard, fruit, jelly, and whipped cream.
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