Riffle vs. Stream — What's the Difference?

A riffle is a shallow landform in a flowing channel, and it has specific topographic, sedimentary, and hydraulic indicators. These are almost always assessed at a very low discharge compared to the flow that fills the channel (approximately 10–20%), and as a result the water moving over a riffle appears shallow and fast, with a wavy, disturbed water surface.

A stream is a body of water with surface water flowing within the bed and banks of a channel. The flow of a stream is controlled by three inputs – surface water, subsurface water and groundwater.

Turn over something, especially the pages of a book, quickly and casually

A small, narrow river

Shuffle (playing cards) by flicking up and releasing the corners or sides of two piles of cards so that they intermingle and may be slid together to form a single pile

A continuous flow of liquid, air, or gas

An act or sound of riffling through something

A continuous flow of data or instructions, typically one having a constant or predictable rate.

A rocky or shallow part of a stream or river where the water flows brokenly

A group in which schoolchildren of the same age and ability are taught.

A rocky shoal or sandbar lying just below the surface of a waterway.

(of liquid, air, gas, etc.) run or flow in a continuous current in a specified direction

A stretch of choppy water caused by such a shoal or sandbar; a rapid.

Transmit or receive (data, especially video and audio material) over the Internet as a steady, continuous flow.

A wave or ripple in such water.

Put (schoolchildren) in groups of the same age and ability to be taught together.

In mining, the sectional stone or wood bottom lining of a sluice, arranged for trapping mineral particles, as of gold.

A flow of water in a channel or bed, as a brook, rivulet, or small river.

A groove or block in such a lining.

A steady current in such a flow of water.

(Games) The act or an instance of shuffling cards.

A steady current of a fluid.

(Games) To shuffle (playing cards) by holding part of a deck in each hand and raising up the edges before releasing them to fall alternately in one stack.

A large amount or number moving or occurring in steady succession

To thumb through (the pages of a book, for example).

A trend, course, or drift, as of opinion, thought, or history.

(Games) To shuffle cards.

A beam or ray of light.

To flow in rough waves or become choppy, as water.

Chiefly British A course of study to which students are tracked.

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

(Computers) A steady flow of data.

A succession of small waves.

To flow in a stream or current.

(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 trough.

To pour forth or give off a stream; flow

A quick skim through the pages of a book.

To move or arrive in large numbers; pour

The act of shuffling cards; the sound made while shuffling cards.

To extend, wave, or float outward

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

To leave a continuous trail of light.

(intransitive) To flow over a swift, shallow part of a stream.

To give forth a continuous stream of light rays or beams; shine.

(transitive) To ruffle with a rippling action.

To emit, discharge, or exude (a body fluid, for example).

(intransitive) To skim or flick through the pages of a book.

(Computers) To transmit or receive (audio or video content), especially over the internet, in small, sequential packets that permit the content to be played continuously as it is being received and without saving it to a hard disk.

(transitive) To leaf through rapidly.

A small river; a large creek; a body of moving water confined by banks.

(transitive) To shuffle playing cards by separating the deck in two and sliding the thumbs along the edges of the cards to mix the two parts.

A thin connected passing of a liquid through a lighter gas (e.g. air).

(transitive) To idly manipulate objects with the fingers.

Any steady flow or succession of material, such as water, air, radio signal or words.

(transitive) To prepare samples of material using a riffler.

All moving waters.

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.

(computing) A source or repository of data that can be read or written only sequentially.

A ripple in a stream or current of water; also, a place where the water ripples, as on a shallow rapid.

(figurative) A particular path, channel, division, or way of proceeding.

A small wave on the surface of a liquid

A division of a school year by perceived ability.

Shuffling by splitting the pack and interweaving the two halves at their corners

A live stream.

Twitch or flutter;

(intransitive) To flow in a continuous or steady manner, like a liquid.

Look through a book or other written material;

(intransitive) To extend; to stretch out with a wavy motion; to float in the wind.

Stir up (water) so as to form ripples

(transitive) To discharge in a stream.

Shuffle (playing cards) by separating the deck into two parts and riffling with the thumbs so the cards intermix

(Internet) To push continuous data (e.g. music) from a server to a client computer while it is being used (played) on the client.

A current of water or other fluid; a liquid flowing continuously in a line or course, either on the earth, as a river, brook, etc., or from a vessel, reservoir, or fountain; specifically, any course of running water; as, many streams are blended in the Mississippi; gas and steam came from the earth in streams; a stream of molten lead from a furnace; a stream of lava from a volcano.

A beam or ray of light.

Anything issuing or moving with continued succession of parts; as, a stream of words; a stream of sand.

A continued current or course; as, a stream of weather.

Current; drift; tendency; series of tending or moving causes; as, the stream of opinions or manners.

To issue or flow in a stream; to flow freely or in a current, as a fluid or whatever is likened to fluids; as, tears streamed from her eyes.

To pour out, or emit, a stream or streams.

To issue in a stream of light; to radiate.

To extend; to stretch out with a wavy motion; to float in the wind; as, a flag streams in the wind.

To send forth in a current or stream; to cause to flow; to pour; as, his eyes streamed tears.

To mark with colors or embroidery in long tracts.

To unfurl.

A natural body of running water flowing on or under the earth

Dominant course (suggestive of running water) of successive events or ideas;

A steady flow (usually from natural causes);

The act of flowing or streaming; continuous progression

Something that resembles a flowing stream in moving continuously;

To extend, wave or float outward, as if in the wind;

Exude profusely;

Move in large numbers;

Rain heavily;

Flow freely and abundantly;