riff

¹

[ rif ]

noun

1. Jazz. a melodic phrase, often constantly repeated, forming an accompaniment or part of an accompaniment for a soloist.
2. a new variation on or a different manifestation of an existing thing or idea (often followed by on ):

   This is an eco-conscious riff on the study-abroad experience.

verb (used without object)

1. Jazz. to perform a repeated melodic phrase, forming an accompaniment for a soloist.
2. to experiment with a thing or idea, making changes that create a new and novel version of it (often followed by on ):

   My partner likes to let his ideas quietly simmer, but I prefer to riff on mine in conversations where I can bounce my thoughts off other people.

3. to create, write, or perform something, like a comedy routine, using a common or known point of departure and following a previously unexplored tangent from that known point to a fresh or humorous perspective (often followed by on or off ):

   My act riffs off famous love stories and adds modern feminist elements to unmask the absurdity of “happily ever after” in fairy tales.

Riff

²

[ 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. Er Rif.

riff

/ rɪf /

noun

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

verb

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

Other Words From

• Riffi·an adjective noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of riff¹

First recorded in 1930–35; perhaps alteration and shortening of refrain ²

Word History and Origins

Origin of riff¹

C20: probably altered and shortened from refrain ²

Example Sentences

The signature “Christmapolitan,” a holiday-themed riff on the Cosmopolitan with cinnamon and spiced cranberry sauce, will be back as well.

From Fortune

We got slightly overexcited about the design here without thinking about how clunky it might be to take out, so definitely riff on our idea.

From Outside Online

Video games such as “Gran Turismo 4” and “Guitar Hero” have used his riffs.

From Fortune

He was a classically trained pianist who also created some of the most distinctive guitar riffs in rock history.

From Fortune

The result was this 160-word riff, the sort of thing that will end up in history books as a marker of why the United States found itself in its current position.

From Washington Post

The pair riff on pink slime, the New World Order, and even the War on Christmas™.

From The Daily Beast

Not that the Shakespearean riff on/rip off is limited to novels.

From The Daily Beast

The crowd was there to listen to Chappelle riff on everything from the Wu-Tang Clan to Barack Obama to gay rights.

From The Daily Beast

He continued to sing, but now we were "playing" the guitar riff with our voices.

From The Daily Beast

Remember the Woody Allen riff about “what terrible food, and such small portions” at a Catskill Resort?

From The Daily Beast

These are the poorer class of models—the riff-raff of the Quarter—who get anywhere from a few sous to a few francs for a séance.

From Project Gutenberg

Riff is only a few miles from Kesgrave Church, where you can still see the tombstone of the gipsy queen in the churchyard.

From Project Gutenberg

The father of one of the oldest inhabitants of Riff witnessed the immense concourse of gipsies who attended the funeral.

From Project Gutenberg

The floating riff-raff had passed away, leaving a solid, intelligent population of sixteen hundred.

From Project Gutenberg

The punishment inflicted on the Riff pirates was soon forgotten, and they continued their depredations on British commerce.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

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