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riff

 - 11 dictionary results

riff

1  [rif] Jazz.
Use riff in a Sentence
–noun
1. a melodic phrase, often constantly repeated, forming an accompaniment or part of an accompaniment for a soloist.
–verb (used without object)
2. to perform riffs.
Origin:
1930–35; perh. alter. and shortening of refrain 2

riff

2  [rif]
–verb (used with object) Informal.
rif.

Riff

  [rif]
–noun, plural Riffs, Riff⋅i  [rif-ee] , (especially collectively) Riff.
1. a member of the Berber people living in Er Rif in northern Morocco.
2. Rif.
Related forms:
Rif⋅fi⋅an, adjective, noun

rif

  [rif]
–verb (used with object), -riffed, -rif⋅fing. Informal.
to discharge (a person) from military or civil service, esp. as part of an economy program.
Also, riff.

Origin:
1945–50; special use of RIF

Rif

  [rif]
–noun
Er  [er] , a mountainous coastal region in N Morocco.
Also, Riff.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
Cite This Source Link To riff
riff   (rĭf)   
n.  

  1. Music A short rhythmic phrase, especially one that is repeated in improvisation.

  2. A clever or inventive commentary or remark: "Those little riffs that had seemed to have such sparkle over drinks ... look all too embarrassing in cold print" (John Richardson).

intr.v.   riffed, riff·ing, riffs
To play or make riffs.

[Origin unknown.]
Riff or Rif   (rĭf)   
n.   pl. Riff or Riffs or Rif or Rifs also Rif·fi (rĭf'ē)

  1. A member of any of several Berber peoples inhabiting Er Rif.

  2. The Berber language of this people.

Rif'fi·an adj. & n.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Slang Dictionary
rif [rɪf]

  1. tv.
    to dismiss an employee. (From the euphemism reduction in force.) : They're going to rif John tomorrow.
  2. n.
    a firing; a dismissal. : There's a rif in your future.
Dictionary of American Slang and Colloquial Expressions by Richard A. Spears.Fourth Edition.
Copyright 2007. Published by McGraw Hill.
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riff

  1. n.
    a short, repeated line of music played by a particular performer. : Jim just sat there and forgot his riff.
  2. 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.
Cite This Source
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, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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Computing Dictionary

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

The Free On-line Dictionary of Computing, © 1993-2007 Denis Howe
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