trifle
noun /ˈtraɪfl/
/ˈtraɪfl/
- [countable, uncountable] (British English) a cold dessert (= a sweet dish) made from cake and fruit with layers of jelly, custard and creamTopics Foodc2
- a trifle[singular] (used as an adverb) (formal) slightly
- She seemed a trifle anxious.
- He was just a trifle too friendly for my liking.
- [countable] (formal) something that is not valuable or important
- There’s no point worrying over such trifles.
- $1 000 is a mere trifle to her.
Word OriginMiddle English (also denoting an idle story told to deceive or amuse): from Old French trufle, by-form of trufe ‘deceit’, of unknown origin. The verb derives from Old French truffler ‘mock, deceive’.