[tri.fle] n [ME trufle, trifle, fr. OF trufe, trufle mockery] (13c) 1: something of little value, substance, or importance
2: a dessert of many varieties typically including plain or sponge cake, sherry, rum, or brandy, jam or jelly, fruit, custard, and whipped cream -- a trifle : to some small degree: slightly "a trifle annoyed"
[2]trifle vb tri.fled ; tri.fling [ME truflen, triflen, fr. OF trufer, trufler to mock, trick] vi (14c) 1 a: to talk in a jesting or mocking manner or with intent to delude or mislead b: to treat someone or something as unimportant
2: to handle something idly ~ vt: to spend or waste in trifling or on trifles -- tri.fler n syn trifle, toy, dally, flirt, coquet mean to deal with or act toward without serious purpose. trifle may imply playfulness, unconcern, indulgent contempt "to trifle with a lover's feelings". toy implies acting without full attention or serious exertion of one's powers "a political novice toying with great issues". dally suggests indulging in thoughts or plans merely as an amusement "dallying with the idea of building a boat someday". flirt implies an interest or attention that soon passes to another object "flirted with one fashionable ism after another". coquet implies attracting interest or admiration without serious intention "companies that coquet with environmentalism solely for public relations".