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

The tips of the fringe were frayed.
The Fray axe is definitely of the good.
I'm may return to the fray in the new year.
The other redesign got thrown into the fray.
Frank joins the fray in order to escape the explosives.
All at once the lands were removed and scattered in the fray.
Fray Pedro was the first inquisitor appointed in the New World.
Fray Jimenez is considered the apostle of the island of Masbate.
The song was covered by The Fray in 2007 for the compilation album.
The role of the encyclopedia is to note this, not to enter into the fray.
It's great for small kitchen wares, but hidden away in the fray is Mercado Senora, or the "witches market."
Real Madrid also got back into the title fray, beating Valencia 2-0 after Barcelona could only draw 0-0 with Espanyol.
One of the most prominent voices to jump into the fray is popular right-wing radio host and author Mark Levin, who went on Facebook yesterday and ripped Beck:
While this fray is playing itself out, President Barack Obama announces that, in the spirit of his long-hoped-for "bipartisanship," he is not merely willing but actually eager to work with the new Republican House and Republican Senate on budgetary matters.