RIFF

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

IPA (US):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does Riff mean? 

• RIFF (noun)
  The noun RIFF has 2 senses:

1. a Berber living in northern Morocco

2. a jazz ostinato; usually provides a background for a solo improvisation

  Familiarity information: RIFF used as a noun is rare.

• RIFF (verb)
  The verb RIFF has 2 senses:

1. look through a book or other written material

2. play riffs

  Familiarity information: RIFF used as a verb is rare.

 Dictionary entry details 

• RIFF (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

A Berber living in northern Morocco

Classified under:

Nouns denoting people

Synonyms:

Riff; Riffian

Hypernyms ("Riff" is a kind of...):

Berber (a member of an indigenous people of northern Africa)

Sense 2

Meaning:

A jazz ostinato; usually provides a background for a solo improvisation

Classified under:

Nouns denoting communicative processes and contents

Hypernyms ("riff" is a kind of...):

ostinato (a musical phrase repeated over and over during a composition)

Derivation:

riff (play riffs)

• RIFF (verb)

Present simple: I / you / we / they riff    ... he / she / it riffs   
Past simple: riffed   
Past participle: riffed   
-ing form: riffing   

Sense 1

Meaning:

Look through a book or other written material

Classified under:

Verbs of seeing, hearing, feeling

Synonyms:

flick; flip; leaf; riff; riffle; thumb

Context example:

She leafed through the volume

Hypernyms (to "riff" is one way to...):

peruse (examine or consider with attention and in detail)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s PP

Sense 2

Meaning:

Play riffs

Classified under:

Verbs of sewing, baking, painting, performing

Hypernyms (to "riff" is one way to...):

play; spiel (replay (as a melody))

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s

Derivation:

riff (a jazz ostinato; usually provides a background for a solo improvisation)

 Context examples 

Repetition can be useful if you're trying to memorize a poem, master a guitar riff, or just cultivate good habits.

(Research on repetitive worm behavior has implications for understanding human diseases, National Science Foundation)