riffle

American  

[rif-uhl] / ˈrɪf əl /

verb (used with or without object)

riffled, riffling

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.

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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 British  

/ ˈrɪfəl /

verb

1. 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

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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 Word Forms

• unriffled adjective

Etymology

Origin of riffle

1630–40; blend of ripple ¹ and ruffle ¹

Example Sentences

He makes some questionable moves himself, like allowing Vivian to riffle through the discovery documents, and the two become unlikely, close friends.

From Salon • Feb. 16, 2022

They had a name for every riffle in the river.

From Los Angeles Times • Dec. 20, 2021

Squads of scientists have packed in 1,000 pounds of gear by mule train for riverscape surveys, counting fish in every riffle, glide and pool.

From Seattle Times • Oct. 18, 2020

We riffle through several more natural wines – all made with almost zero mechanical or chemical intervention – and they are certainly intriguing.

From The Guardian • Nov. 14, 2017

I riffle through the herbal tea bags in the kitchenette, Lemon Mist, Morning Thunder, and bypass them in favor of some thick, jolting, poisonous coffee.

From "Cat's Eye" by Margaret Atwood