/'petɪ; `pɛtɪ/ adj (-ier, -iest) (derog 贬)
1 small or trivial; unimportant 小的; 琐碎的; 不重要的
*petty details, petty queries, regulations, troubles 细节、小问题、琐碎的规章、小麻烦.
2 (a) concerned with small and unimportant matters 注重琐事的
*petty observance of the regulations 遵守规章制度上的细节.
(b) having or showing a small mind; mean 狭隘的; 器量小的; 小气的
*petty and childish behaviour 小心眼和孩子气的行为
* petty spite 心胸狭窄的怨恨
* a petty desire to have her revenge 她想要报复的狭隘念头
* petty about money 金钱上很小气.

adj
[Date: 1300-1400; Language: Old French;Origin: peti 'small']
a petty problem, detail etc is small and unimportant
= trivial
　petty squabbles
　petty restrictions
unkind and caring too much about small unimportant things
　How can she be so petty?
　petty jealousy and spitefulness
petty crime
a crime that is not serious, for example stealing things that are not very valuable
petty criminal/thief etc
a criminal whose crimes are not very serious
a petty official is not important - used especially when they use their power as if they were important
　Some petty bureaucrat wanted all the documents in triplicate.
>pettinessn[U]
　the pettiness of Hollywood