trifles

Noun

trifle (countable and uncountable, plural trifles)

1. An English dessert made from a mixture of thick custard, fruit, sponge cake, jelly and whipped cream.
   • It is interesting to watch the surface joviality on screen while racism is layered between courses like soggy trifles.2020 May 27, Kieran Yates, “Fifteen years of TV dinners: why Come Dine With Me has endured”, in The Guardian, →ISSN
2. (figuratively) Anything that is of little importance or worth.
   • Trifles light as air / Are to the jealous confirmation strong / As proofs of holy writ.c. 1603–1604 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Tragedie of Othello, the Moore of Venice”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac...
   1. (figuratively) An insignificant amount of money.
      • A trifle, some eight-penny matter.c. 1597 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The First Part of Henry the Fourth, […]”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and...
3. (figuratively) A very small amount (of something).
   • This Line leaves out […] Poplar and Black-vvall, vvhich are indeed contiguous, a Trifle of Ground excepted, and very populous.1742, [Daniel Defoe], “Letter II. Containing A Description of the City of London.”, in A Tour thro’ the Whole Island of Great Britain. […], 3rd edition, volume II, London: […] J[ohn] Osborn, […]...

   Synonyms:

   smidgen, ace, atom, thought, atomy, aught, bissel, continental, bit, crumb

4. A particular kind of pewter.
5. (uncountable) Utensils made from this particular kind of pewter.

See all 11 meanings of trifle