51Թ

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fray

1

[frey]

noun

  1. a fight, battle, or skirmish.

    Synonyms: , , , , , ,
  2. a competition or contest, especially in sports.

    Synonyms: , , ,
  3. a noisy quarrel or brawl.

    Synonyms: , , , , , , , , , ,
  4. Archaic.fright.



verb (used with object)

  1. Archaic.to frighten.

verb (used without object)

  1. Archaic.to fight or brawl.

fray

2

[frey]

verb (used with object)

  1. to wear (cloth, rope, etc.) to loose, raveled threads or fibers at the edge or end; cause to ravel out.

    Our old washing machine frayed all of our towels.

    Synonyms: , ,
  2. to wear by rubbing (sometimes followed bythrough ).

  3. to cause strain on (something); upset; discompose.

    All that arguing is fraying my nerves.

    Synonyms: , ,
  4. to rub.

verb (used without object)

  1. to wear into loose, raveled threads or fibers, as cloth; ravel out.

    My sweater frayed at the elbows.

  2. to become strained or stressed.

    Jealousy could be a sign that your relationship is fraying.

  3. to rub against something.

    tall grass fraying against my knees.

noun

  1. a raveled or worn part, as in cloth.

    frays at the toes of well-worn sneakers.

fray

1

/ ڰɪ /

noun

  1. a noisy quarrel

  2. a fight or brawl

  3. an archaic word for fright

“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

verb

  1. (tr) to frighten

“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

fray

2

/ ڰɪ /

verb

  1. to wear or cause to wear away into tatters or loose threads, esp at an edge or end

  2. to make or become strained or irritated

  3. to rub or chafe (another object) or (of two objects) to rub against one another

“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

noun

  1. a frayed place, as in cloth

“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
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Other 51Թ Forms

  • frayed adjective
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51Թ History and Origins

Origin of fray1

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English frai; shortening of affray

Origin of fray2

First recorded in 1375–1425; late Middle English fraien, from Old French frayer, freiier “to rub,” from Latin ڰ; friction
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51Թ History and Origins

Origin of fray1

C14: short for affray

Origin of fray2

C14: from French frayer to rub, from Latin ڰ ; see friction , friable
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Idioms and Phrases

see enter the lists (fray).
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Example Sentences

Examples have not been reviewed.

There are no frayed nerves or screaming matches backstage before the Miami show... and no-one's on fire.

From

The participants — a handful of dads — begin sharing personal stories about toddlers that melt down like snow on summer asphalt, frayed patience and what it means to parent with intention.

From

After that defeat he stepped back from politics but later returned to the fray and appeared to have ambitions to run for the presidency again.

From

Credulously repeating Musk's claims that he's leaving the government, as far too many media outlets have done, helps Musk soothe the frayed nerves of his investors.

From

Federal Communications Commissioner Anna M. Gomez traveled to Los Angeles this week to sound an alarm that attacks on the media by President Trump and his lieutenants could fray the fabric of the 1st Amendment.

From

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