bagatelle

/,bægə'təl/
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Thân thiện
bagatelle

A child plays a game of bagatelle on the wooden table.

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.
bagatelle

A child plays a game of bagatelle on the wooden table.

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

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