Ostinato — meaning in English

English meaning

• riff noun A short, repeated musical phrase, especially in rock or jazz.

Senses

Ostinato is used for these senses in English:

• ostinato (music) A piece of melody, a chord progression, or a bass figure that is repeated over and over as a musical accompaniment.
• riff A repeated melody line in a song, usually instrumental but sometimes vocal.

riff — full definition

1. noun A short, repeated musical phrase, especially in rock or jazz.
2. noun A creative variation or spin-off on an existing idea, joke, or theme.
3. verb To improvise on a theme, musically or otherwise.

Related German words