fray

/frei/
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fray

The children's argument began to fray their friendship.

Definition

  1. Noun:

    • A noisy fight or quarrel: "fray" refers to a heated, often chaotic, physical or verbal conflict involving multiple people.
    • A state of intense activity or competition: It can also describe a situation of energetic struggle or contest.

  2. Verb:

    • To wear away (a fabric or rope) by rubbing: The primary meaning is to cause the threads or fibers of a material to become worn and begin to separate.
    • To cause or experience friction or strain: It can describe the act of rubbing something until it frays, or the state of becoming worn in this way.
    • To become strained or irritated (of nerves, tempers, etc.): Used figuratively to describe something becoming worn down or stressed.
Examples of Usage

  • Noun:

    • He jumped into the fray to break up the fight.
    • Several new companies have entered the political fray.

  • Verb:

    • Constant use had begun to fray the edges of the carpet.
    • The rope frayed where it rubbed against the metal ring.
    • Her nerves were frayed by the constant noise.
Advanced Usage

  • "to enter the fray": to join a fight, argument, or competition.

    • The senator was reluctant to enter the fray of the presidential campaign.

  • "at the fraying edges": describing something that is beginning to show signs of strain or wear, often used figuratively.

    • Their relationship was at the fraying edges after months of arguing.
Variants and Related Words
  • Frayed (adj): Worn or unraveled at the edge; also, strained or irritated.
    • He wore a jacket with frayed cuffs.
    • She spoke with frayed patience.
Synonyms
  • Noun: Fight, brawl, skirmish, scuffle, conflict, melee.
  • Verb: Wear, unravel, frazzle, chafe, rub, erode.
Related Phrasal Verbs

(This word does not commonly form phrasal verbs. The verb is typically used transitively or intransitively.)

Related Idioms
  • "to be in the thick of the fray": to be deeply involved in the most intense part of a fight or conflict.
    • The reporter was in the thick of the fray, documenting the protest.
fray

The children's argument began to fray their friendship.

Noun
  1. a noisy fight
Verb
  1. cause friction
    • my sweater scratches
  2. wear away by rubbing
    • The friction frayed the sleeve

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