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Smatter vs Trifle - What's the difference?

smatter | trifle |

In intransitive terms the difference between smatter and trifle

is that smatter is to talk superficially; to babble while trifle is to inconsequentially toy with something.

In transitive terms the difference between smatter and trifle

is that smatter is to speak (a language) with spotty or superficial knowledge while trifle is to squander or waste.

smatter

English

Verb

(en verb)
  • To talk superficially; to babble.
  • * Jonathan Swift
  • Of state affairs you cannot smatter .
  • To speak (a language) with spotty or superficial knowledge.
  • to smatter Arabic
  • (figuratively) To study or approach superficially; to dabble in.
  • To have a slight taste, or a slight, superficial knowledge, of anything; to smack.
  • Derived terms

    * smatterer * smattering

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • superficial knowledge; a smattering
  • Anagrams

    *

    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

    * * ----