View synonyms for rag

rag

[ rag ]

Phonetic (Standard)IPA

noun

a worthless piece of cloth, especially one that is torn or worn.
rags, ragged or tattered clothing:
The tramp was dressed in rags.
any article of apparel regarded deprecatingly or self-deprecatingly, especially a dress:
It's just an old rag I had in the closet.
a shred, scrap, or fragmentary bit of anything.
Informal.
1. something of very low value or in very poor condition.
2. a newspaper or magazine regarded with contempt or distaste:
  Are you still subscribing to that rag?
a person of shabby or exhausted appearance.
a large roofing slate that has one edge untrimmed.

rag

[ rag ]

Phonetic (Standard)IPA

verb (used without object)

, ragged, rag·ging.

to subject a person to teasing or scolding, especially in an intense or prolonged way (usually followed by on ):
Some of the boys were ragging on him about his haircut.
to criticize a person or thing (usually followed by on ): I wish reviewers would stop ragging on the movie.
He rags and whines to me instead of fixing the problem.
I wish reviewers would stop ragging on the movie.

verb (used with object)

, ragged, rag·ging.

to subject to teasing or scolding, especially in an intense or prolonged way:
He was ragged at school for not joining a sports team.
to criticize.
British. to torment with jokes; play crude practical jokes on.

noun

British. an act of ragging; a cruel or crude practical joke.

rag

[ rag ]

Phonetic (Standard)IPA

verb (used with object)

, ragged, rag·ging.

to break up (lumps of ore) for sorting.

rag

⁴

[ rag ]

Phonetic (Standard)IPA

noun

a musical composition in ragtime:
a piano rag.

verb (used with object)

, ragged, rag·ging.

to play (music) in ragtime.

rag

/ ræɡ /

noun

a roofing slate that is rough on one side

rag

/ ræɡ /

verb

to draw attention facetiously and persistently to the shortcomings or alleged shortcomings of (a person)
to play rough practical jokes on

noun

a boisterous practical joke, esp one on a fellow student
in British universities
1. a period, usually a week, in which various events are organized to raise money for charity, including a procession of decorated floats and tableaux
2. ( as modifier )
  rag day

rag

/ ræɡ /

noun

a piece of ragtime music

verb

tr to compose or perform in ragtime

rag

⁴

/ ræɡ /

noun

1. a small piece of cloth, such as one torn from a discarded garment, or such pieces of cloth collectively
2. ( as modifier )
  rag paper
  a rag book
  a rag doll
a fragmentary piece of any material; scrap; shred
informal.
a newspaper or other journal, esp one considered as worthless, sensational, etc
informal.
an item of clothing
informal.
a handkerchief
slang.
nautical a flag or ensign
lose one's rag
to lose one's temper suddenly

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Word History and Origins

Origin of rag¹

First recorded in 1275–1325; Middle English ragge, from Scandinavian; compare Norwegian, Swedish ragg “coarse hair,” from Old Norse rǫgg

Origin of rag²

First recorded in 1735–40; origin uncertain

Origin of rag³

First recorded in 1870–75; origin uncertain

Origin of rag⁴

First recorded in 1895–1900; shortened form of ragtime

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Word History and Origins

Origin of rag¹

C13: of obscure origin

Origin of rag²

C18: of uncertain origin

Origin of rag³

C20: shortened from ragtime

Origin of rag⁴

C14: probably back formation from ragged , from Old English raggig ; related to Old Norse rögg tuft

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Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

from rags to riches, from extreme poverty to great wealth:
He went from rags to riches in only three years.
chew the rag. chew ( def 11 ).

More idioms and phrases containing rag

In addition to the idiom beginning with rag , also see chew the fat (rag) ; from rags to riches ; glad rags ; run ragged .

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

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