riffle Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. noun a small wave on the surface of a liquid
    ripple; wavelet; rippling.
  2. noun shuffling by splitting the pack and interweaving the two halves at their corners
  3. verb twitch or flutter
    flick; ruffle.
    • the paper flicked
  4. verb look through a book or other written material
    flick; leaf; thumb; flip; riff.
    • He thumbed through the report
    • She leafed through the volume
  5. verb stir up (water) so as to form ripples
    ripple; undulate; ruffle; cockle.
  6. verb shuffle (playing cards) by separating the deck into two parts and riffling with the thumbs so the cards intermix

WordNet

Rif"fle noun
Etymology
CF. G. riffeln, riefeln, to groove. Cf. Rifle a gun.
Definitions
  1. (Mining) A trough or sluice having cleats, grooves, or steps across the bottom for holding quicksilver and catching particles of gold when auriferous earth is washed; also, one of the cleats, grooves, or steps in such a trough. Also called ripple.

Webster 1913