trifle

[ trahy-fuhl ]
/ ˈtraɪ fəl /

noun

verb (used without object), tri·fled, tri·fling.

verb (used with object), tri·fled, tri·fling.

to pass or spend (time) idly or frivolously (usually followed by away).

Origin of trifle

1175–1225; (noun) Middle English tru( f) fle idle talk, deceit < Old French, variant of truf( f) e mockery, deceit; (v.) Middle English treoflen to mock < Old French trufler to make sport of

OTHER WORDS FROM trifle

tri·fler, noun

Example sentences from the Web for trifle

British Dictionary definitions for trifle

trifle
/ (ˈtraɪfəl) /

noun

verb

(intr usually foll by with) to deal (with) as if worthless; dally to trifle with a person's affections
to waste (time) frivolously

Derived forms of trifle

trifler, noun

Word Origin for trifle

C13: from Old French trufle mockery, from trufler to cheat