riff
/ɹɪf/ noun, verb
Also a form of reef
Forms riffs riffing riffed
- noun A repeated melody line in a song, usually instrumental but sometimes vocal. “Listen to one of the greatest guitar riffs of all time!”
- noun A clever or witty remark.
- noun A variation on something.
- noun A spoof.
- verb To improvise in the performance or practice of an art, especially by expanding on or making novel use of traditional themes.
- verb To riffle.
- verb To tell jokes over a movie or similar performance.
- noun (anatomy, archaic) The belly; the bowels.
Synonyms
Etymology
Uncertain. Perhaps a clipping of riffle, or an alteration of refrain.
From Middle English *rif (found only in midrif), from Old English hrif (“the belly; womb”), from Proto-West Germanic *hrif, from Proto-Germanic *hrefaz (“body; torso; belly”), from Proto-Indo-European *krep- (“body”). Distant doublet of corpus, corpse, and corse.
Sources: Wiktionary · WordNet 3.0 — from the Wiktionary entry “riff”, CC BY-SA 4.0. Details