fray

IPA: frˈeɪ

(archaic or obsolete) A consequence of rubbing, unravelling, or wearing away; a fraying; also, a place where fraying has occurred.
(countable) A noisy commotion, especially resulting from fighting; a brawl, a fight; also, a loud quarrel.
(countable, figuratively) A heated argument; a war of words.
(uncountable) Conflict, disagreement.
(obsolete)
(countable) An assault or attack.
(countable) A loud noise; a cacophony, a din.
(except Scotland, uncountable) Fright, terror; (countable) an instance of this.
A surname.

(transitive)
(also figuratively) To rub or wear away (something); to cause (something made of strands twisted or woven together, such as cloth or rope) to unravel through friction; also, to irritate (something) through chafing or rubbing; to chafe.
(specifically) Of a deer: to rub (its antlers or head) against a tree, etc., to remove the velvet from antlers or to mark territory; also, to rub its antlers against (a tree, etc.) for that purpose.
To force or make (a path, way, etc.) through.
(obsolete) To bruise (someone or something); also, to take the virginity of (someone, usually a female person); to deflower.
(intransitive)
To become unravelled or worn; to unravel.
To rub.
(specifically) Of a deer: to rub its antlers against a tree, etc., to remove the velvet or to mark territory.
(figuratively) Of a person's mental strength, nerves, temper, etc.: to become exhausted or worn out.
(except poetic) To alarm or frighten (someone or something).
Often followed by away, off, or out: to frighten or scare (someone or something) away.
(by extension)
To assail or attack (someone or something); to drive (someone or something) away by attacking.
To chase (someone or something) away; to disperse.
To be afraid or frightened; to fear.
To make an assault or attack; also, to create a disturbance; to brawl, to fight.
(transitive, obsolete, rare) To bear the expense of (something); to defray.

Examples of "fray" in Sentences