English vocabulary · B2
Fray
/freɪ/ · v., n.
Fray means to wear at an edge until its threads pull apart. The material then looks old and weak.
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Example sentences
- The old rope began to fray.
- Weeks of stress frayed her nerves.
Word origin and roots
from Old French
- fraier — rub (from Old French)
Synonyms and nuances
- UNRAVEL — separate into loose threads (Threads Come Loose)
- TATTER — make cloth old and torn (Become Torn)
- STRAIN — become weak under stress (Feel Too Much Pressure)
Words with the same root
fraier — rub
- friction — rubbing between surfaces
Lesson notes
Fray means to wear at an edge until its threads pull apart. The material then looks old and weak.
Related: unravel, tatter, strain. Use fray when an edge starts coming apart from rubbing or long use.
The old rope began to fray. Weeks of stress frayed her nerves.
From Old French. Fraier means rub. Fraier became English fray. Rubbing slowly pulls a strong edge apart.