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

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# ragged

adjective (more ragged, most ragged)

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

## Everyday

1. Old and torn, with holes and loose threads: «a ragged coat». [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/R/ragged/#m1)
2. Wearing old, torn clothes: «a ragged child». [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/R/ragged/#m2)
3. Rough and uneven at the edges, not smooth: «a ragged coastline», «ragged clouds». [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/R/ragged/#m3)
4. Not well together; untidy, uneven or tired: «a ragged performance», «ragged breathing». [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/R/ragged/#m4)
5. (verb form) Past of «rag» (to tease): «They ragged him about his hat.» (UK, old-fashioned) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/R/ragged/#m5)

### In the lessons

In stories ragged clothes show poverty or a long hard journey (Victorian street children); in geography a ragged coastline has many bays and points; in sport a ragged team plays badly. Phrases: «ragged clothes», «ragged edges», «run ragged» (made very tired).

### Examples

- The poor boy in the story wore a ragged coat. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/R/ragged/#x1)
- Tear the paper slowly or the edge will be ragged. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/R/ragged/#x2)
- Norway has a ragged coastline full of fjords. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/R/ragged/#x3)
- The band gave a ragged performance after no practice. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/R/ragged/#x4)
- Looking after twins runs Mum ragged. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/R/ragged/#x5)
- His breathing was ragged after the race. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/R/ragged/#x6)
- The scarecrow's ragged hat flapped in the wind. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/R/ragged/#x7)
- "I'm Elfin, the pig keeper," said the ragged youth. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/R/ragged/#x8)

### Note

Pronounced RAG-id (two syllables) as an adjective; but as the past of the verb «rag» it is one syllable, RAGD. «Run someone ragged» means make them very tired. Related: rag, rags. Not the same as «rugged» (rough and strong).

## On Mova

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