bagatelle
1 of 1nounan indoor game played on a table with holes and pins on it, in which each player attempts to hit the ball in a way that they move past the pins and go into the holes each indicating a specific score
Bagatelle is a tabletop game that involves rolling balls into pockets or holes on a rectangular board, usually with a series of pins or obstacles in the way. The game is similar to pinball and can be played by one or more players. Players take turns launching balls using a spring-loaded plunger or a pin to control the ball's movement. The goal is to land the balls in high-scoring areas, with different pockets offering different points. Bagatelle has many variations, including those with automatic scoring and more complex designs, and it was an early precursor to modern pinball machines.
- They spent the evening playing bagatelle in the parlor.
- The antique bagatelle table had brass pins and velvet lining.
- He taught his grandchildren how to play bagatelle, just as his father had taught him.
- The pub had a vintage bagatelle table tucked in the corner.
- She scored the highest by landing three balls in the top-value holes of the bagatelle board.
a thing of trivial value or importance
- She treated the overdue bill as a mere bagatelle.
- Losing a pen was a bagatelle compared to the other problems he faced.
- The dispute over the parking space seemed a bagatelle in hindsight.
- For such a wealthy man, the fine was a bagatelle.
- He dismissed the criticism as a petty bagatelle.
a short, light, and typically playful composition for piano, often written for entertainment rather than serious concert performance
- The pianist opened the recital with a charming bagatelle by Beethoven.
- She composed a bagatelle as a gift for her friend's wedding.
- His latest album includes a lively bagatelle in C major.
- The bagatelle's cheerful melody brightened the quiet afternoon.
- Students often learn simple bagatelles to develop expression and phrasing.