Pronunciations (9)
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/ɹæɡ/
Pronunciation notes
- Received-Pronunciation
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/ɹaɡ/
Pronunciation notes
- British
- Southern
- Standard
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/ɾaɡ/
Pronunciation notes
- Scotland
- Wales
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/ɹæːɡ/
Pronunciation notes
- Australia
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/ɹɛɡ/
Pronunciation notes
- New-Zealand
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/ɹæɡ/
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[ˈɹʷæɡ]
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/ɹeɪ̯ɡ/
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[ˈɹʷeɪ̯ɡ]
Noun
Tattered clothes (clothing).
Usage- especially
- in-plural
- Examples
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—What a pretty dress! —What, this old rag?
It's semiformal. I can't show up dressed in rags!
More examples (2)
rags to riches
And virtue, though in rags, will keep me warm.
A piece of old cloth, especially one used for cleaning, patching, etc.; a tattered piece of cloth; a shred or tatter.
- Examples
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Cowls, hoods, and habits, with their wearers, toss'd, / And flutter'd into rags; then reliques, beads,
[…]even by the law of their own might and malice, not having otherwise any rag of legality to cover the shame of their cruelty.
A shabby, beggarly person; synonym of ragamuffin.
Usage- Derogatory
- Examples
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For upon the like Proclamation there, they all came in, both tag and rag
The other zealous rag is the compositor, / Who in an angle where the ants inhabit, / (The emblems of his labors) will sit curl'd
More examples (1)
Nor will it be achieved by marching in the streets in leather, drag, chains, fish net over-flying-tits or any other get up. It will not be accomplished by hung-over bar rags, hustlers, shallow queens, or angry dykes.
A ragged edge in metalworking.
A sail, or any piece of canvas.
Usage- Slang
- Examples
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Our ship was a clipper, with every rag set, stunsails, sky-scrapers, and all.
More examples (1)
"'Oh yes, that's all very well, but we haven't done with it yet,' said the lad, 'we shall have it worse directly,' and he ordered them to furl every rag but the mizen."
Sanitary napkins, pads, or other materials used to absorb menstrual discharge.
Usage- plural
- singular
- Slang
- Examples
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More examples (1)
"It's heaviest on the first day, which might be why it hurts so much. After that, it slows down and eventually stops, but you'll need the rags for about a week."
A newspaper or magazine, especially one whose journalism is considered to be of poor quality.
Usage- Derogatory
- Slang
- Synonyms
- Examples
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"You must behave yourself, dear. Mr. Malone is a Pressman. He will have it all in his rag to-morrow, and sell an extra dozen among our neighbors."
A poor, low-ranking kicker.
- Examples
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I have ace-four on my hand. In other words, I have ace-rag.
A curtain of various kinds.
Usage- Slang
A person suffering from exhaustion or lack of energy.
Usage- Dated
- Examples
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"It took it out of me, though. I'm a rag this morning." "They work you too hard, dear."
A banknote.
Usage- Obsolete
- Slang
- Examples
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More examples (1)
What was he at, do you think? Counting bank-notes; he had bundles of them. […] Well, Guv'nor, he stood up by-and-by, and taking the bundles of rags, the big uns in one hand, tother ones in tother, he toddled out of the room; […] So I tucked my violin under my arm, and sallied out after the old budgy ragman, determined to ease him of his load at the very first lonesome corner I could track him to.
An uneven vertical margin (of a block of type).
- Examples
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We always leave rag on article typeset for the web.
Verb
To decorate (a wall, etc.) by applying paint with a rag.
Usage- Transitive
To become tattered.
Usage- Intransitive
To menstruate.
Usage- euphemistic
- Intransitive
- Slang
- sometimes
- Vulgar
Noun
A coarse kind of rock, somewhat cellular in texture; ragstone.
Usage- Countable
- Uncountable
- Examples
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the three walls around the garden, each one of thirty-three feet, were built out of three layers of stone — pebble stone, flint and rag stone.
Verb
To break (ore) into lumps for sorting.
- Broader terms
To cut or dress roughly, as a grindstone.
- Synonyms
- Broader terms
- Examples
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Near-synonym: rough
Verb
To scold or tell off; to torment; to banter.
- Examples
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More examples (1)
“Yesterday it was Mademoiselle Daubreuil, today it is Mademoiselle—Cinderella! Decidedly you have the heart of a Turk, Hastings! You should establish a harem!” “It’s all very well to rag me. […]”
To drive a car or another vehicle in a hard, fast, or unsympathetic manner.
Usage- UK usage
- Slang
- Broader terms
To tease or torment, especially at a university; to bully, to haze.
Of dogs, to bite an object, often a toy or leash, and vigorously shake their head.
Usage- Transitive
Noun
A prank or practical joke.
Usage- Dated
- Examples
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More examples (1)
The rascal winked and grinned. 'There are always and means,' said he. 'But don't blame your foreman. He thought it was just a rag. I swapped clothes with his assistant, and in I came.'
Well, it’s only a rag, isn’t it?
More examples (1)
And Vesper. He looked to the right, past the thin man who was lying back with his eyes closed. His first reaction was one of scorn. Damn fool girl getting herself trussed up like a chicken, having her skirt pulled over her head as if the whole of this business was some kind of dormitory rag.
A society run by university students for the purpose of charitable fundraising.
Usage- Ireland
- UK usage
Noun
An informal dance party featuring music played by African-American string bands.
Usage- US usage
- Obsolete
A ragtime song, dance or piece of music.
Verb
To play or compose (a piece, melody, etc.) in syncopated time.
Usage- Informal
- Transitive
- Examples
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Now let's rag it. We'll keep the notes more or less the same but make the rhythm more fun.
To dance to ragtime music.
Usage- Informal
- Intransitive
To add syncopation (to a tune) and thereby make it appropriate for a ragtime song.
Usage- Obsolete
Noun
a small piece of cloth
- Broader terms
a week at British universities during which side-shows and processions of floats are organized to raise money for charities
- Synonyms
music with a syncopated melody (usually for the piano)
- Synonyms
- Broader terms
newspaper with half-size pages
a boisterous practical joke (especially by college students)
- Broader terms
Verb
treat cruelly
- Examples
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The children tormented the stuttering teacher
cause annoyance in; disturb, especially by minor irritations
- Broader terms
- Examples
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Mosquitoes buzzing in my ear really bothers me
It irritates me that she never closes the door after she leaves
play in ragtime
- Examples
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rag that old tune
harass with persistent criticism or carping
- Examples
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The children teased the new teacher
Don't ride me so hard over my failure
More examples (1)
His fellow workers razzed him when he wore a jacket and tie
censure severely or angrily
- Synonyms
- Broader terms
- Examples
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The mother scolded the child for entering a stranger's car
The deputy ragged the Prime Minister
More examples (1)
The customer dressed down the waiter for bringing cold soup
break into lumps before sorting
- Broader terms
- Examples
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rag ore