Definition

1. Noun:
   • A trifle; something of little value or importance: "bagatelle" primarily refers to a thing or matter considered too insignificant to be worth serious attention.
   • A short, light piece of music, typically for the piano: In music, a "bagatelle" is a brief, often playful or unpretentious composition.
   • A table game resembling a simplified form of billiards or pinball: Historically, "bagatelle" names a game where balls are struck with a cue to enter holes on a board, often guarded by pins.

Examples of Usage

• Noun (Trifle):
  • The cost of the repair was a mere bagatelle to the wealthy businessman.
  • Don't worry about that mistake; it's a bagatelle in the grand scheme of things.
• Noun (Music):
  • Beethoven composed several charming bagatelles for the piano.
  • The concert included a delightful bagatelle by a contemporary composer.
• Noun (Game):
  • In the 19th century, bagatelle was a popular parlor game.
  • The antique table was designed for playing bagatelle.

Advanced Usage

• Used figuratively to dismiss the importance or cost of something.
  • The legal fees, a bagatelle for the corporation, were crippling for the individual.
• In musical contexts, it implies a piece that is technically accessible and light in character, though not necessarily simple.
  • The composer's bagatelles are deceptively simple, hiding great musical depth.

Variants and Related Words

• Bagatelles (plural noun): The standard plural form for all meanings.
  • He collected musical bagatelles from the Romantic era.

Synonyms

• Trifle: A thing of little value or importance.
• Trinket: A small ornament or item of jewelry of little value.
• Bauble: A small, showy trinket or decoration.
• Novelty: A small, inexpensive, often amusing article.
• (For music): Short piece, character piece.

Related Phrases

• A mere bagatelle: A common collocation emphasizing insignificance.
  • The donation was a mere bagatelle compared to his total wealth.

Related Idioms

• While not a standalone idiom, the word itself often functions within the idiomatic phrase "a mere bagatelle" to signify something trivial.
  • To a global company, a million-dollar fine is often considered a mere bagatelle.

Noun

1. a table game in which short cues are used to knock balls into holes that are guarded by wooden pegs; penalties are incurred if the pegs are knocked over
2. something of little value or significance
3. a light piece of music for piano