riffle

plural riffles

1. A swift, shallow part of a stream causing broken water.

   The big trout feed aggressively and tend to lose their caution in the rifles.

   2017, Bill Barich, “On the Glories of Autumn”, in California Fly Fisher

   2 more examples

   They then proceeded below the milldam, where there was a strong riffle, with likely looking pools and eddies

   1903, James Alexander Henshall, Bass, Pike, Perch and other Game Fishes of America

   [...] Brook Drain has now been diverted into a newly dug replacement river section [...]. It has been designed in conjunction with the Environment Agency to hold a much larger volume of water, in order to help with local flooding issues. It also features riffles (shallow sections of water) and side pools where aquatic wildlife can take shelter during storms.

   2020 April 8, Paul Stephen, “ECML dive-under drives divergence”, in Rail, page 43

2. A succession of small waves.
3. businessA 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 trough.
4. A quick skim through the pages of a book.
5. Synonym of riffle shuffle

   Synonyms: riffle shuffle

6. The sound made while shuffling cards.

present singular third person riffles · participle present riffling · participle past riffled · past riffled

1. intransitiveTo flow over a swift, shallow part of a stream.
2. transitiveTo ruffle with a rippling action.
3. intransitiveTo skim or flick through the pages of a book.
4. transitiveTo leaf through rapidly.

   Near-synonym: rifle

   Synonyms: rifle

5. transitiveTo shuffle playing cards by separating the deck in two and sliding the thumbs along the edges of the cards to mix the two parts.
6. transitiveTo idly manipulate objects with the fingers.
7. transitiveTo prepare samples of material using a riffler.

plural riffles

1. In seal engraving, a small metal disc at the end of a tool.

plural Riffles

1. A surname.