fray

Universal Words verb, noun verb 1 if fabric frays or sth frays it, the threads in it start to come apart: [V] The cuffs of his shirt were fraying. * This material frays easily. * [VN] It was fashionable to fray the bottoms of your jeans. 2 if sb's nerves or temper frays or sth frays them, the person starts to get irritated or annoyed: [V] As the debate went on, tempers began to fray. [also VN] frayed adjective: frayed denim shorts * Tempers were getting very frayed. IDIOMS fray at / around the edges / seams to start to come apart or to fail: Support for the leader was fraying at the edges. noun (the fray) [sing.] a fight, competition or argument, especially one that is exciting or seen as a test of your ability: ready / eager for the fray * to enter / join the fray * At 71, he has now retired from the political fray.