| 释义 |
tri·fle
I. \ˈtrīfəl\ noun
(-s)
Etymology: Middle English trifle, trufle, from Old French trufle, trufe mockery, trickery
1. obsolete : an idle, nonsensical, or fictitious tale
2. : something of very little value or importance: as
a. : a paltry trinket or knickknack : bauble
b. : a creative work of no great or enduring value and often of purely topical interest
c. obsolete : a person of no account
d. : an insignificant or relatively small amount (as of money)
< cost only a trifle >
3.
a. chiefly Britain : a dessert of sponge cake spread with jam or jelly, sprinkled with crumbled macaroons, soaked in wine, and served with custard and whipped cream
b. chiefly Britain : a dessert (as of soft fruit) served with custard and whipped cream
4.
a. : a pewter of moderate hardness (as of 83 parts tin and 17 antimony) used especially for small utensils
b. trifles plural : utensils made of trifle
•
- a trifle
II. verb
(trifled ; trifled ; trifling \-f(ə)liŋ\ ; trifles)
Etymology: Middle English triflen, truflen, from Old French trufler, trufer to mock, trick
intransitive verb
1.
a. : to talk jestingly or mockingly with intent to delude : indulge in beguiling or misleading talk
< I fear he did but trifle and meant to wreck thee — Shakespeare >
b. : to act without seriousness of purpose or mood or due respect : speak, write, carry on an affair, or act with levity or flippancy : be heedless, indifferent, or frivolous where concern or respect are desirable : play, flirt — often followed by with
< trifle with your health >
< trifled with the boy's affections >
2. : to waste time (as in idleness or foolish pastimes) : loiter, dally
< trifling through the summer vacation >
3. : to handle something idly : toy, fidget — usually followed by with
< trifling with the silverware at his place >
transitive verb
1. : to spend or waste in trifling or on trifles — usually used with away
< trifle away money >
2. obsolete : to make or treat as trivial
•
- to be trifled with |