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Trifle vs Frivolous - What's the difference?

trifle | frivolous |

As a noun trifle

is an english dessert made from a mixture of thick custard, fruit, sponge cake, jelly and whipped cream.

As a verb trifle

is to deal with something as if it were of little importance or worth.

As an adjective frivolous is

silly, especially at an inappropriate time or in an inappropriate manner.

trifle

English

Noun

  • An English dessert made from a mixture of thick custard, fruit, sponge cake, jelly and whipped cream.
  • An insignificant amount.
  • * {{quote-book, year=1928, author=Lawrence R. Bourne
  • , title=Well Tackled! , chapter=17 citation , passage=Commander Birch was a trifle uneasy when he found there was more than a popple on the sea; it was, in fact, distinctly choppy. Strictly speaking, he ought to have been following up the picket–boat, but he was satisfied that the circumstances were sufficiently urgent for him to take risks.}}
  • Anything that is of little importance or worth.
  • * Shakespeare
  • Trifles light as air / Are to the jealous confirmation strong / As proofs of holy writ.
  • * Drayton
  • with such poor trifles playing
  • A particular kind of pewter.
  • (uncountable) Utensils made from this particular kind of pewter.
  • Synonyms

    See also: . * (insignificant amount) iota, jot, scrap, whit * (thing of little importance or worth) bagatelle, minor detail, whiffle

    Derived terms

    * a trifle

    See also

    * ("trifle" on Wikipedia)

    Verb

    (trifl)
  • To deal with something as if it were of little importance or worth.
  • To act, speak, or otherwise behave with jest.
  • To inconsequentially toy with something.
  • To squander or waste.
  • Anagrams

    * * ----

    frivolous

    English

    Adjective

    (en adjective)
  • Silly, especially at an inappropriate time or in an inappropriate manner.
  • * '>citation
  • * Factcheck.org[http://www.factcheck.org/article133.html]:
  • One of the major cost drivers in the delivery of health care are these junk and frivolous lawsuits.
  • Of little weight or importance; not worth notice; slight.
  • In litigation, a lawsuit filed by a party who is aware the claim is without merit and has no reasonable prospect of success because of a lack of supporting legal or factual basis.
  • Derived terms

    * frivolent * frivolously * frivolousness