The meaning of FRAY is a usually disorderly or protracted fight, struggle, or dispute. How to use fray in a sentence.
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).
If your nerves or your temper fray, or if something frays them, you become nervous or easily annoyed because of mental strain and anxiety. Tempers began to fray as the two teams failed to score. [VERB] This kind of living was beginning to fray her nerves. [VERB noun]
FRAY definition: 1. to become or to cause the threads in cloth or rope to become slightly separated, forming loose…. Learn more.
(figuratively) Of a person's mental strength, nerves, temper, etc.: to become exhausted or worn out. The hectic day ended in her nerves frayed. fray (plural frays) Modernized from the 1630 text, where the word was spelled frayes. 'Tis like a Lawnie-Firmament as yet / Quite diſpoſſeſt of either fray, or fret.
to (cause to) become worn into loose threads at the edge or end: [no object] Sweaters often fray at the elbows. [~ + object] All that traffic frayed the carpet.
People experiencing friction are involved in a fray, or a noisy fight. If you have had a long day and feel like you're about to break down, you might say you are frayed.
noun A fret or chafe in cloth, a cord, etc.; a place injured or weakened by rubbing: as, a fray in an angler's line. To put in fear; terrify; frighten; deter by fear.