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

They returned to her office, and while Mother tried to figure out what was happening, Dr. Cooper riffled through a filing cabinet, mumbling to herself.

From Literature

The songs often morph through multiple changes of tempo and texture, riffling unpredictably through indie-rock austerity, orchestral lushness, pop perkiness and hallucinatory electronic studio concoctions, like the cascade of wavery, overlapping piano lines in “Connect.”

From New York Times

Brigit riffled inside and retrieved old styluses, a moldy Marveller-bar, and a huge skeleton key imprinted with a diamond and wrapped in thread.

From Literature

Even after the Christmas rush, the aisles were packed with Asian customers riffling through racks of Ohtani jerseys and T-shirts featuring his caricature, his name stamped with Japan’s red sun symbol or the “SHO-TIME” logo.

From Los Angeles Times

In the recording, the former president is heard riffling through papers and saying: "This is highly confidential".

From BBC