[Elamur Dictionary](https://md.dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/) · [this page in HTML](https://dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/english/fray/)

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# fray

verb (fray, frays, frayed, fraying); noun (the fray)

«fray» in the English dictionary: everyday — its meanings, how the lessons use it, and examples, each with its tree on Mova.

## Everyday

1. If cloth or rope frays, its threads come loose at the edge and it starts to wear out. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/F/fray/#m1)
2. If someone's nerves or temper fray, they become tense and start to get annoyed. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/F/fray/#m2)
3. The fray is a fight, argument or competition: «join the fray», «enter the fray». [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/F/fray/#m3)

### In the lessons

In everyday life, jeans, shoelaces and ropes fray with use; in safety, a frayed rope or electric cable is dangerous and should be replaced. In stories and news, people «jump into the fray» of an argument or battle. Phrases: «frayed edges», «tempers frayed», «join the fray», «above the fray».

### Examples

- The edges of my jeans have started to fray. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/F/fray/#x1)
- Never use a frayed electric cable. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/F/fray/#x2)
- Tempers frayed as the long car journey went on. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/F/fray/#x3)
- Another team entered the fray in the second half. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/F/fray/#x4)
- The knight rode into the fray. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/F/fray/#x5)
- Her nerves were frayed before the exam. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/F/fray/#x6)
- Then the ten thousand mighty lions joined the fray and tore in pieces man and horse. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/F/fray/#x7)

### Note

Regular verb: frayed. «Frayed» describes worn cloth or tired, edgy nerves. «Stay above the fray» means do not get involved in an argument.

## On Mova

- [Trees and pragmatics of «fray» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/F/fray/): every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames.
- [«fray» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/fray.html) on Mova free.