rag

1
[ rag ]
See synonyms for: ragraggedraggingrags on Thesaurus.com

noun
  1. a worthless piece of cloth, especially one that is torn or worn.

  2. rags, ragged or tattered clothing: The tramp was dressed in rags.

  1. any article of apparel regarded deprecatingly or self-deprecatingly, especially a dress: It's just an old rag I had in the closet.

  2. a shred, scrap, or fragmentary bit of anything.

  3. Informal.

    • something of very low value or in very poor condition.

    • a newspaper or magazine regarded with contempt or distaste: Are you still subscribing to that rag?

  4. a person of shabby or exhausted appearance.

  5. a large roofing slate that has one edge untrimmed.

Idioms about rag

  1. chew the rag. chew (def. 11).

  2. from rags to riches, from extreme poverty to great wealth: He went from rags to riches in only three years.

Origin of rag

1
First recorded in 1275–1325; Middle English ragge, from Scandinavian; compare Norwegian, Swedish ragg “coarse hair,” from Old Norse rǫgg

Words Nearby rag

Other definitions for rag (2 of 4)

rag2
[ rag ]

verb (used without object)ragged, rag·ging.
  1. 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.

  2. to criticize a person or thing (usually followed by on): 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.
  1. to subject to teasing or scolding, especially in an intense or prolonged way: He was ragged at school for not joining a sports team.

  1. British. to torment with jokes; play crude practical jokes on.

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

Origin of rag

2
First recorded in 1735–40; origin uncertain

Other definitions for rag (3 of 4)

rag3
[ rag ]

verb (used with object),ragged, rag·ging.
  1. to break up (lumps of ore) for sorting.

Origin of rag

3
First recorded in 1870–75; origin uncertain

Other definitions for rag (4 of 4)

rag4
[ rag ]

noun
  1. a musical composition in ragtime: a piano rag.

verb (used with object),ragged, rag·ging.
  1. to play (music) in ragtime.

Origin of rag

4
First recorded in 1895–1900; shortened form of ragtime

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

How to use rag in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for rag (1 of 4)

rag1

/ (ræɡ) /


noun
    • a small piece of cloth, such as one torn from a discarded garment, or such pieces of cloth collectively

    • (as modifier): a rag doll; a rag book; rag paper

  1. a fragmentary piece of any material; scrap; shred

  1. informal a newspaper or other journal, esp one considered as worthless, sensational, etc

  2. informal an item of clothing

  3. informal a handkerchief

  4. British slang esp nautical a flag or ensign

  5. lose one's rag to lose one's temper suddenly

Origin of rag

1
C14: probably back formation from ragged, from Old English raggig; related to Old Norse rögg tuft

British Dictionary definitions for rag (2 of 4)

rag2

/ (ræɡ) /


verbrags, ragging or ragged (tr)
  1. to draw attention facetiously and persistently to the shortcomings or alleged shortcomings of (a person)

  2. British to play rough practical jokes on

noun
  1. British a boisterous practical joke, esp one on a fellow student

  2. (in British universities)

    • a period, usually a week, in which various events are organized to raise money for charity, including a procession of decorated floats and tableaux

    • (as modifier): rag day

Origin of rag

2
C18: of uncertain origin

British Dictionary definitions for rag (3 of 4)

rag3

/ (ræɡ) jazz /


noun
  1. a piece of ragtime music

verbrags, ragging or ragged
  1. (tr) to compose or perform in ragtime

Origin of rag

3
C20: shortened from ragtime

British Dictionary definitions for rag (4 of 4)

rag4

/ (ræɡ) /


noun
  1. a roofing slate that is rough on one side

Origin of rag

4
C13: of obscure origin

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Other Idioms and Phrases with rag

rag

In addition to the idiom beginning with rag

  • rag doll

also see:

  • chew the fat (rag)
  • from rags to riches
  • glad rags
  • run ragged

The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.