trinket
/'triɳkit/
Học thuậtThân thiện
Definition
- Noun:
- A small, inexpensive, and often decorative item, typically used as an ornament or piece of jewelry. It is usually showy or ornamental but not of great material value.
Usage
- The word "trinket" is used to describe a small decorative object or piece of jewelry that is considered cheap, showy, or of little intrinsic worth. It often carries a slightly dismissive or condescending connotation, implying the item is more for ornamentation than utility or serious value.
Examples
- Noun:
- She bought a few colorful trinkets from the street market.
- The box was filled with old trinkets and costume jewelry.
- He brought back a souvenir trinket for each of his coworkers.
Advanced Usage
- "mere trinket": Emphasizes the item's lack of value or significance.
- To him, the expensive watch was a mere trinket compared to his grandfather's simple pocket watch.
- Used figuratively to describe something considered trivial or insignificant.
- The award felt like a trinket, not recognizing the true depth of her work.
Variants and Related Words
- Trinketry (noun, rare): A collective term for trinkets or the quality of being like a trinket.
- The room was cluttered with trinketry.
Synonyms
- Bauble: A small, showy ornament of little value.
- Knickknack: A small decorative object.
- Gewgaw: A showy but worthless object.
- Novelty: A small, inexpensive, often amusing item.
Antonyms
- Heirloom: A valuable object owned by a family for several generations.
- Treasure: A very valuable object.
Related Phrases and Idioms
- "Trinkets and beads": A phrase historically used to refer to items of little value offered in trade, often carrying connotations of unfair exchange or colonialism.
- The land was acquired for trinkets and beads.
- "Bag of trinkets": Implies a collection of miscellaneous items of little individual worth.
- The magician pulled a bag of trinkets from his hat.
Noun
- cheap showy jewelry or ornament on clothing