fray
(redirected from Harth Fray)Also found in: Thesaurus.
fray 1
(frā)n.
1. A fight; a brawl. See Synonyms at brawl.
2. A heated dispute or intensely competitive situation: "Minneapolis became the latest battleground in the fray over bio-engineering as hundreds of protesters took to the streets" (Todd Wilkinson).
3. A military engagement; a battle.
tr.v. frayed, fray·ing, frays Archaic
1. To alarm; frighten.
2. To drive away.
[Middle English frai, shortening of affrai; see affray.]
fray 2
(frā)v. frayed, fray·ing, frays
v.tr.
1. To strain; chafe: repeated noises that fray the nerves.
2. To wear away (the edges of fabric, for example) by rubbing.
v.intr.
To become worn away or tattered along the edges.
n.
A frayed or threadbare spot, as on fabric.
[Middle English fraien, to wear, bruise, from Old French fraier, to rub, from Latin fricāre.]
American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
fray
(freɪ)vb
(tr) to frighten
[C14: short for affray]
fray
(freɪ)vb
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
n
a frayed place, as in cloth
[C14: from French frayer to rub, from Latin fricāre; see friction, friable]
Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014
fray1
(freɪ)n.
1. a fight; skirmish; conflict.
2. a noisy quarrel or debate.
3. Archaic. fright.
v.t. 4. Archaic. to frighten.
[1250–1300; Middle English frai; aph. variant of affray]
fray2
(freɪ)v.t.
1. to wear (material) into loose threads at the edge or end: to fray a cuff.
2. to wear out by rubbing.
3. to cause strain on: The argument frayed their nerves.
v.i. 4. to become frayed: sweaters frayed at the elbows.
n. 5. a frayed part.
[1375–1425; late Middle English < Old French frayer,freiier to rub < Latin fricāre]
Random House Kernerman Webster's College Dictionary, © 2010 K Dictionaries Ltd. Copyright 2005, 1997, 1991 by Random House, Inc. All rights reserved.
fray
Past participle: frayed
Gerund: fraying
Imperative |
---|
fray |
fray |
Collins English Verb Tables © HarperCollins Publishers 2011
ThesaurusAntonymsRelated WordsSynonymsLegend:
Switch to new thesaurus
Noun | 1. | ![]() |
Verb | 1. | fray - wear away by rubbing; "The friction frayed the sleeve" fall apart, wear out, bust, wear, break - go to pieces; "The lawn mower finally broke"; "The gears wore out"; "The old chair finally fell apart completely" |
2. | fray - cause friction; "my sweater scratches" |
Based on WordNet 3.0, Farlex clipart collection. © 2003-2012 Princeton University, Farlex Inc.
fray
1noun fight, battle, row, conflict, clash, set-to (informal), riot, combat, disturbance, rumble (U.S. & N.Z. slang), quarrel, brawl, skirmish, scuffle, rumpus, broil, affray (Law), shindig (informal), donnybrook, battle royal, ruckus (informal), scrimmage, shindy (informal), bagarre (French), melee or mêlée Today he entered the fray on the side of the moderates.
fray
2verb
1. wear thin, wear, rub, fret, wear out, chafe, wear away, become threadbare The stitching had begun to fray at the edges.
2. strain, become tense, become stressed, become on edge Tempers began to fray as the two teams failed to score.
Collins Thesaurus of the English Language – Complete and Unabridged 2nd Edition. 2002 © HarperCollins Publishers 1995, 2002
fray
nounThe American Heritage® Roget's Thesaurus. Copyright © 2013, 2014 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
TranslationsSelect a language:
Spanish / Español
fray
1 [freɪ] N (= fight) → combate m, lucha fto be ready for the fray (lit, fig) → estar dispuesto a pelear
to enter the fray (fig) → entrar en acción or en liza
fray
2 [freɪ]A. VI
1. [cloth, garment, cuff] → deshilacharse; [rope] → desgastarse
B. VT
1. [+ cloth, garment, cuff] → deshilachar, raer; [+ rope] → desgastar
Collins Spanish Dictionary - Complete and Unabridged 8th Edition 2005 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1971, 1988 © HarperCollins Publishers 1992, 1993, 1996, 1997, 2000, 2003, 2005
fray
(frei) verb (of cloth, rope etc) to make or become worn at the ends or edges, so that the threads or fibres come loose. This material frays easily.deshilacharse, raerse
Kernerman English Multilingual Dictionary © 2006-2013 K Dictionaries Ltd.