n. & v.
--n.
1. a thing of slight value or importance.
2 a a small amount esp. of money (was sold for a trifle). b (prec. by a) somewhat (seems a trifle annoyed).
3 Brit. a confection of sponge cake with custard, jelly, fruit, cream, etc.
--v.
1. intr. talk or act frivolously.
2 intr. (foll. by with) a treat or deal with frivolously or derisively; flirt heartlessly with. b refuse to take seriously.
3 tr. (foll. by away) waste (time, energies, money, etc.) frivolously.
Derivatives:
trifler n.
Etymology: ME f. OF truf(f)le by-form of trufe deceit, of unkn. orig.