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riff

[rif]

Origin

noun

a melodic phrase, often constantly repeated, forming an accompaniment or part of an accompaniment for a soloist.

verb (used without object)

to perform riffs.

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Riff is one of our favorite verbs.

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to spend time idly; loaf.

to chew (food) slowly and thoroughly.

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Origin:
1930–35; perhaps alteration and shortening of refrain²

Dictionary.com Unabridged

verb (used with object) Informal.

rif.

noun, plural Riffs, Riff·i

[rif-ee] , (especially collectively) Riff.

a member of the Berber people living in Er Rif in northern Morocco.

Rif.

Related forms

Rif·fi·an, adjective, noun

Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2012.
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Link To Riff

Collins

World English Dictionary

Rif, Riff or Rifi (rɪf, ˈrɪfɪ)

—n , Rifs, Riffs, Rifis, Rif, Riff, Rifi
1.	a member of a Berber people, inhabiting the Atlas Mountains in Morocco
2.	Rifian, Also called: Riffian the dialect of Berber spoken by this people
3.	See Er Rif

Riff, Riff or Rifi (rɪf, ˈrɪfɪ, ˈrɪfɪən)

—n

Rifi, Riff or Rifi (rɪf, ˈrɪfɪ, ˈrɪfɪən, ˈrɪfɪən)

—n

riff (rɪf)

—n
1.	(in jazz or rock music) a short series of chords

—vb
2.	(intr) to play or perform riffs in jazz or rock music
3.	informal to speak amusingly or make (amusing comments or remarks)

[C20: probably altered and shortened from refrain²]

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 10th Edition
2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009
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Etymonline

Word Origin & History

riff

"melodic phrase in jazz," 1935 (but said to have been used by musicians since c.1917), of uncertain origin, perhaps a shortened form of riffle (q.v.), or altered from refrain. The verb is attested from 1955.

Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
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Slang Dictionary

riff definition

n.
a short, repeated line of music played by a particular performer. : Jim just sat there and forgot his riff.
n.
a digression while speaking. (From sense 1.) : If she didn't make so many riffs while she spoke, we could understand her better.

Dictionary of American Slang and Colloquial Expressions by Richard A. Spears.Fourth Edition.
Copyright 2007. Published by McGraw Hill.
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FOLDOC

Computing Dictionary

RIFF definition

file format
Microsoft's equivalent to the Amiga's IFF files format. RIFF is used for WAV and AVI files.
(1995-04-21)

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Related Words

Abd-el Krim

reef

Matching Quote

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