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# trifle

noun (a trifle, trifles; trifle — uncountable as a dessert); verb (trifle, trifles, trifled, trifling — with «with»); adverb phrase «a trifle»

«trifle» in the English dictionary: everyday and in Jewish tradition — its meanings, how the lessons use it, and examples, each with its tree on Mova.

## Everyday

1. A cold dessert made of layers of sponge cake, fruit or jelly, custard and cream, popular in the UK, Ireland, Australia and NZ. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/T/trifle/#m1)
2. Something small and unimportant. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/T/trifle/#m2)
3. (in «a trifle») A little, slightly: «a trifle tired». [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/T/trifle/#m3)
4. (in «trifle with») To treat someone or something without enough respect or seriousness. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/T/trifle/#m4)

### In the lessons

In everyday life trifle is a party and Christmas dessert in many British, Irish, Australian and NZ homes. In stories, «a trifle» as an adverb sounds old-fashioned or polite: «a trifle cold». «Not to be trifled with» warns that someone or something is serious or dangerous. Phrases: «a trifle», «not to be trifled with», «strawberry trifle».

### Examples

- Grandma made a big trifle for the party. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/T/trifle/#x1)
- The trifle had layers of jelly, custard and cream. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/T/trifle/#x2)
- Don't worry about such trifles. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/T/trifle/#x3)
- The soup was a trifle too salty. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/T/trifle/#x4)
- The old king was not a man to be trifled with. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/T/trifle/#x5)
- It cost only a trifle, so I bought it. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/T/trifle/#x6)
- (informal) That's a trifle unfair, isn't it? [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/T/trifle/#x7)
- But the dwarfs were not to be trifled with. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/T/trifle/#x8)

### Note

As a dessert, it can be countable («two trifles») or uncountable («some trifle»). Adjective: «trifling» (unimportant). «A trifle» meaning «slightly» is formal or old-fashioned; children usually say «a bit».

## In Jewish tradition

In everyday life trifle is a party and Christmas dessert in many British, Irish, Australian and NZ homes. In stories, «a trifle» as an adverb sounds old-fashioned or polite: «a trifle cold». «Not to be trifled with» warns that someone or something is serious or dangerous. Phrases: «a trifle», «not to be trifled with», «strawberry trifle».

### Examples

- ()f the Sefer Yetzirah II little need be said ; it abounds in trifles, contradictions and repetitions. (Mordell, The Origin of Letters and Numerals according to Sefer Yetzirah (1914)) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/T/trifle/#x1)

### Note

As a dessert, it can be countable («two trifles») or uncountable («some trifle»). Adjective: «trifling» (unimportant). «A trifle» meaning «slightly» is formal or old-fashioned; children usually say «a bit».

## On Mova

- [Trees and pragmatics of «trifle» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/T/trifle/): every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames.
- [«trifle» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/trifle.html) on Mova free.
- [Trees and pragmatics of «trifle» in the Judaism dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/T/trifle/): every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames.
- [«trifle» in the Judaism dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/judaism/w/trifle.html) on Mova free.