verb

fray

verb

To wear away at the edges through rubbing, so that threads separate.

"The cuffs of his jacket had begun to fray."

"Constant washing frayed the old rope."

Of nerves, patience, or relationships: to become worn down and strained.

"Tempers frayed after hours stuck in traffic."

noun

A fight, argument, or heated confrontation, especially one someone is drawn into.

"He tried to stay out of the fray during the office dispute."

"She jumped into the fray to defend her colleague."

How to Use Fray

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishTo wear thin through friction (fabric, nerves), or as a noun, a fight or conflict someone joins.

Common pairings

fray at the edges nerves fray join the fray enter the fray

Word Forms

frayed past tense, frayed past tense, frayed past tense, frays plural, fray plural, frayed plural, frays plural, Frays plural, frays singular, frays singular, fray singular, frayed singular, frayest singular, frayeth singular, frayedst singular, frays singular

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The cuffs of his jacket had begun to _____.

Etymology

The verb comes from Old French fraier, "to rub," from Latin fricare, "to rub." The noun sense (a fight) developed from the same root via the idea of clashing or rubbing against each other.

Rhymes for fray

ay may day say ray hay lay pay jay way yay nay

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