riffle

[ rif-uhl ]

verb (used with or without object)

, rif·fled, rif·fling.

1. to turn hastily; flutter and shift:

   to riffle a stack of letters; to riffle through a book.

2. Cards. to shuffle by dividing the deck in two, raising the corners slightly, and allowing them to fall alternately together.
3. to cause or become a riffle.

noun

1. a rapid, as in a stream.
2. a ripple, as upon the surface of water.
3. Mining. the lining of transverse bars or slats on the bed of a sluice, arranged so as to catch heavy minerals, as gold or platinum.
4. a hopper for distributing bulk material.
5. the act or method of riffling cards.

riffle

/ ˈrɪfəl /

verb

1. whenintr, often foll by through to flick rapidly through (the pages of a book, magazine, etc), esp in a desultory manner
2. to shuffle (playing cards) by halving the pack and flicking the adjacent corners together
3. to make or become a riffle

noun

1. 1. a rapid in a stream
   2. a rocky shoal causing a rapid
   3. a ripple on water
2. mining a contrivance on the bottom of a sluice, containing transverse grooves for trapping particles of gold
3. the act or an instance of riffling

Other Words From

• un·riffled adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of riffle¹

1630–40; blend of ripple ¹ and ruffle ¹

Word History and Origins

Origin of riffle¹

C18: probably from ruffle ¹, influenced by ripple ¹

Example Sentences

Each year, the Bowers family heads to Brooks Riffle, a fishing hole named after their family.

From Seattle Times

Preoccupied with the ECB and tightening credit conditions in the region, investors are likely to riffle over a bunch of delayed March indicators in Germany - chiefly industrial orders and consumer goods, both of which have been volatile.

From Reuters

He revved the engine as the boat sped around a bend and up a riffle.

From Los Angeles Times

The Ada County Coroner Richard Riffle said in a news release Tuesday that Eli Nash was pronounced dead in a parking lot Monday evening after attempts to save his life were unsuccessful.

From Seattle Times

Riffle said the cause and manner of Nash’s death was still pending.

From Seattle Times