Trifle vs Small - What's the difference?

trifle | small |

In intransitive terms the difference between trifle and small

is that trifle is to inconsequentially toy with something while small is to become small; to dwindle.

As an adjective small is

not large or big; insignificant; few in numbers or size.

As an adverb small is

in a small fashion.

As a proper noun Small is

{{surname}.

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

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

* * ----

small

English

Adjective

(er)

Not large or big; insignificant; few in numbers or size.

* , chapter=5

, title= The Mirror and the Lamp , passage=Here, in the transept and choir, where the service was being held, one was conscious every moment of an increasing brightness; colours glowing vividly beneath the circular chandeliers, and the rows of small lights on the choristers' desks flashed and sparkled in front of the boys' faces, deep linen collars, and red neckbands.}}

* {{quote-magazine, date=2013-06-22, volume=407, issue=8841, page=70, magazine=(The Economist)

, title= Engineers of a different kind , passage=Private-equity nabobs bristle at being dubbed mere financiers. Piling debt onto companies’ balance-sheets is only a small part of what leveraged buy-outs are about, they insist. Improving the workings of the businesses they take over is just as core to their calling, if not more so. Much of their pleading is public-relations bluster.}}

(figuratively) Young, as a child.

(writing, incomparable) Minuscule or lowercase, referring to written letters.

Envincing little worth or ability; not large-minded; paltry; mean.

* Carlyle

A true delineation of the smallest man is capable of interesting the greatest man.

Not prolonged in duration; not extended in time; short.

a small space of time

Synonyms

* (not large or big) little, microscopic, minuscule, minute, tiny; see also * little, wee (Scottish), young * (of written letters) lowercase, minuscule

Antonyms

* See also * (not large or big) capital, big, generous (said of an amount of something given), large * adult, grown-up, old * (of written letters) big, capital, majuscule, uppercase

Derived terms

* small arm * small arms * small beer * small calorie * small-cell lung cancer * small change * small claims court * smallclothes * smaller European elm bark beetle * small forward * small fry * smallgoods * smallholder * smallholding * small hours * small intestine * smallish * small-minded * smallmouth * smallmouth bass * smallmouth black bass * smallness * small potatoes * smallpox * smalls * small-scale * small screen * small stuff * smallsword * small talk * small-time * * small wonder * twice as small * twice as small as

Adverb

(er)

In a small fashion.

* (William Shakespeare), (w, A Midsummer Night's Dream) , Act I, scene 2, line 49:

That's all one: you shall play it in a mask, and / you may speak as small as you will.

In or into small pieces.

* 2009 , Ingrid Hoffman, CBS Early Morning for September 28, 2009 (transcription)

That's going to go in there. We've got some chives small chopped as well.

(obsolete) To a small extent.

* (rfdate) (William Shakespeare), Sonnets , "Lucrece", line 1273

It small avails my mood.

Derived terms

* writ small

Noun

(en noun)

Any part of something that is smaller or slimmer than the rest, now usually with anatomical reference to the back.

(UK, in the plural) Underclothes.

Derived terms

* small of the back

Verb

(en verb)

(obsolete) To make little or less.

To become small; to dwindle.

* Thomas Hardy

And smalled till she was nought at all.

Statistics

Anagrams

* malls 100 English basic words 1000 English basic words ----