American English Dictionary
Definition of “riff”
Word Frequency
riff (rɪf
)
Definitions
(US)noun
- a constantly repeated musical phrase used esp. as background for a soloist or as the basic theme of a final chorus (a term that originated in jazz music)
- (informal) a short, incisive comment, passage, or scene, often one of several functioning as variations on a theme, in a speech, novel, film, etc.
intransitive verb
- to play a riff (a term that originated in jazz music)
- (informal) to make use of a riff or riffs
Word Origin
prob. altered < refrain2Translations for 'riff'
- American English: riff In jazz and rock music, a riff is a short, repeated tune. riffs
- Brazilian Portuguese: motivo musical repetido em uma canção
- Chinese: 反复的音乐小节爵士或摇滚乐反复複的音乐樂小节節
- European Spanish: riff
- French: riff
- German: Riff
- Italian: riff
- Japanese: リフ
- Korean: 재즈나 락 음악에서 반복되는 악절
- Portuguese: motivo musical repetido numa canção
- Spanish: riff
Example Sentences Including 'riff'
It was absurd, really, like a sit-com riff , "Tell your father to pass the salt," "Tell your mother to get it herself.FLIGHT LESSONS (2002)
The book also hits a low during a riff about Amazon's policy of corporate partnering.Wired (2002)
"I can't find the hook," Reid says about the musical riff that can make a pop tune unforgettable.USA Today (2002)
In a black dress and bonnet and with her sign language shtick, they'll do a riff on her "The Piano" movie.New York Post (2003)
Sandy told me he would have given L. B. J. a Dallas riff : `Mr. Shaw owns six percent of Oil Field Thirteen?Love Trouble is my Business (1988)
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