fray Meaning & Definition
What Does Fray Mean?
As a verb, fray means To rub or wear away (something); to cause (something made of strands twisted or woven together, such as cloth or rope) to unravel through friction; also, to irritate (something) through chafing or rubbing; to chafe. Of a deer: to rub (its antlers or head) against a tree, etc., to remove the velvet from antlers or to mark territory; also, to rub its antlers against (a tree, etc.) for that purpose. To force or make (a path, way, etc.) through. To bruise (someone or something); also, to take the virginity of (someone, usually a female person); to deflower. It is also used to mean To rub or wear away (something); to cause (something made of strands twisted or woven together, such as cloth or rope) to unravel through friction; also, to irritate (something) through chafing or rubbing; to chafe. Of a deer: to rub (its antlers or head) against a tree, etc., to remove the velvet from antlers or to mark territory; also, to rub its antlers against (a tree, etc.) for that purpose. As a noun, it means A consequence of rubbing, unravelling, or wearing away; a fraying; also, a place where fraying has occurred. As a noun, it means A noisy commotion, especially resulting from fighting; a brawl, a fight; also, a loud quarrel.
Fray in Brief
| Part of speech | verb, noun |
|---|---|
| Pronunciation | /fɹeɪ/ |
| Synonyms | affray, fret and chafe |
| Plural | frays |
| Verb forms | frays, fraying, frayed |
Fray Definition (Verb)
- To rub or wear away (something); to cause (something made of strands twisted or woven together, such as cloth or rope) to unravel through friction; also, to irritate (something) through chafing or rubbing; to chafe. Of a deer: to rub (its antlers or head) against a tree, etc., to remove the velvet from antlers or to mark territory; also, to rub its antlers against (a tree, etc.) for that purpose. To force or make (a path, way, etc.) through. To bruise (someone or something); also, to take the virginity of (someone, usually a female person); to deflower.
- To rub or wear away (something); to cause (something made of strands twisted or woven together, such as cloth or rope) to unravel through friction; also, to irritate (something) through chafing or rubbing; to chafe. Of a deer: to rub (its antlers or head) against a tree, etc., to remove the velvet from antlers or to mark territory; also, to rub its antlers against (a tree, etc.) for that purpose.
- Of a deer: to rub (its antlers or head) against a tree, etc., to remove the velvet from antlers or to mark territory; also, to rub its antlers against (a tree, etc.) for that purpose.
- To force or make (a path, way, etc.) through.
- To bruise (someone or something); also, to take the virginity of (someone, usually a female person); to deflower.
- To become unravelled or worn; to unravel.
The laces frayed at the cut end.
- To rub. Of a deer: to rub its antlers against a tree, etc., to remove the velvet or to mark territory.
- Of a deer: to rub its antlers against a tree, etc., to remove the velvet or to mark territory.
- Of a person's mental strength, nerves, temper, etc.: to become exhausted or worn out.
The hectic day ended in her nerves frayed.
Fray as a Noun
- A consequence of rubbing, unravelling, or wearing away; a fraying; also, a place where fraying has occurred.
Verb
- To alarm or frighten (someone or something).
- Often followed by away, off, or out: to frighten or scare (someone or something) away.
- To assail or attack (someone or something); to drive (someone or something) away by attacking. To chase (someone or something) away; to disperse.
- To assail or attack (someone or something); to drive (someone or something) away by attacking.
- To chase (someone or something) away; to disperse.
- To be afraid or frightened; to fear. To make an assault or attack; also, to create a disturbance; to brawl, to fight.
- To be afraid or frightened; to fear.
- To make an assault or attack; also, to create a disturbance; to brawl, to fight.
Noun
- A noisy commotion, especially resulting from fighting; a brawl, a fight; also, a loud quarrel.
Though they did not know the reason for the dispute, they did not hesitate to leap into the fray.
- A heated argument; a war of words.
- Conflict, disagreement.
- An assault or attack.
- A loud noise; a cacophony, a din.
- Fright, terror; an instance of this.
Verb
- To bear the expense of (something); to defray.
Verb
- To (cause to) unravel; used particularly for the edge of something made of cloth, or the end of a rope.
The ribbon frayed at the cut end.
- To cause exhaustion, wear out (a person's mental strength).
The hectic day ended in frayed nerves. (Metaphorical use; nerves are visualised as strings)
- Frighten; alarm
- To bear the expense of; to defray.
- To rub.
Noun
- A fight or argument
Though they did not know the reason for the dispute, they did not hesitate to leap into the fray.
- Fright.
Synonyms of Fray
Fray synonyms and antonyms →Fray in a Sentence
The laces frayed at the cut end.
The hectic day ended in her nerves frayed.
Though they did not know the reason for the dispute, they did not hesitate to leap into the fray.
The ribbon frayed at the cut end.
The hectic day ended in frayed nerves. (Metaphorical use; nerves are visualised as strings)
Word Forms & Grammar
fray (third-person singular simple present frays, present participle fraying, simple past and past participle frayed)
fray (plural frays)
fray (countable and uncountable, plural frays)
Words That Rhyme With Fray
Origin of Fray
Origin 1: The verb is derived from Late Middle English fraien (“to beat so as to cause bruising, to bruise; to crush; to rub; to wear, wear off”),[1] borrowed from Old French fraier, freier, freiier (modern French frayer (“to clear, open up (a path, etc.); (figuratively) to find one’s way through (something); (obsolete) to rub”)), from Latin fricāre,[2] the present active infinitive of fricō (“to chafe; to rub”), an intensive form of friō (“to break into pieces, crumble; to rub”), ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *bʰreyH- (“to cut”). Sense 1.2 (“to force or make (a path, way, etc.) through”) is derived from modern French frayer: see above.
Origin 2: The noun is derived from the verb.[3]
Origin 3: From Late Middle English fraien (“to attack, invade; to make an attack; to brawl, fight; to make a loud noise (?); to frighten, terrify; to be frightened of (something), fear”),[4] an aphetic variant of affraien (“to attack, invade; to harass; to brawl, fight; to riot; to reproach; to frighten, terrify; to be frightened of (something), fear; to alarm, disturb; to arouse, awaken, excite”) (whence affray),[5][6] from Anglo-Norman affraier, afrayer (“to frighten, terrify; to disquiet; to disturb”) [and other forms], a variant of effreier, esfreier [and other forms], and Old French effreer, esfreer (“to frighten, scare; to be afraid”) [and other forms] (modern French effrayer),[7] from Vulgar Latin *exfridāre, from Latin ex- (prefix indicating privation) + Frankish *friþu (“peace”) (from Proto-Germanic *friþuz (“peace, tranquility; refuge, sanctuary”), ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *preyH- (“to love; to please”)).
Origin 4: From Late Middle English frai (“an assault, attack; a brawl, fight; disturbance, uproar; fine for assault or breach of the peace”),[8] an aphetic variant of affrai, effrai (“an assault, attack; a brawl, fight; disturbance, uproar; public disturbance, riot; dismay; fear; something frightening”),[9][10] then:[11]
Fray: Your Questions Answered
Is fray a verb or a noun?
Fray is mainly used as a verb, but it can also be used as a noun.
What is another word for fray?
Words with a similar meaning to fray include affray, fret and chafe. See the full list of fray synonyms and antonyms.
What is the plural of fray?
The plural of fray is frays.
What is the past tense of fray?
The past tense of fray is frayed. The present participle is fraying.