Riffs

Variant of riff

noun

  1. 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
  2. Informal a short, incisive comment, passage, or scene, often one of several functioning as variations on a theme, in a speech, novel, film, etc.

Origin: prob. altered < refrain

intransitive verb

  1. to play a riff: a term that originated in jazz music
  2. Informal to make use of a riff or riffs
Webster's New World College Dictionary Copyright © 2010 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
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