rag

[ rag ]

/ ræg /

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See synonyms for: rag / ragged / ragging / rags on Thesaurus.com

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.

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?

a person of shabby or exhausted appearance.

a large roofing slate that has one edge untrimmed.

QUIZZES

QUIZ YOURSELF ON PARENTHESES AND BRACKETS APLENTY!

Set some time apart to test your bracket symbol knowledge, and see if you can keep your parentheses, squares, curlies, and angles all straight!

Question 1 of 7

Let’s start with some etymology: What are the origins of the typographical word “bracket”?

First appeared around 1750, and is related to the French word “braguette” for the name of codpiece armor.

First appeared in 1610, based on the French word “baguette” for the long loaf of bread.

First appeared in 1555, and is related to the French word “raquette” for a netted bat.

TAKE THE QUIZ TO FIND OUT

Idioms for rag

chew the rag. chew (def. 11).

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

Origin of rag

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

Words nearby rag

rafter, raft ice, rafting, raftsman, RAFVR, rag, raga, ragamuffin, rag-and-bone man, ragbag, rag bolt

Definition for rag (2 of 4)

rag²

[ rag ]

/ ræg /

Informal.

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): 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.

Origin of rag

First recorded in 1735–40; origin uncertain

Definition for rag (3 of 4)

rag³

[ rag ]

/ ræg /

verb (used with object), ragged, rag·ging.

to break up (lumps of ore) for sorting.

Origin of rag

First recorded in 1870–75; origin uncertain

Definition for rag (4 of 4)

rag⁴

[ rag ]

/ ræg /

noun

a musical composition in ragtime: a piano rag.

verb (used with object), ragged, rag·ging.

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. 2021

Example sentences from the Web for rag

I’d be left with a soggy pile of paper towels or a damp dish rag, a depressing sight for someone without an in-unit washer-dryer.
Anyone Who Cooks Tofu Should Invest in a Tofu Press|Emma Alpern|March 12, 2021|Eater
Tyson had cut some fabric into pieces that could be used as bandanas, which workers referred to as “rags.”
As COVID-19 Ravaged This Iowa City, Officials Discovered Meatpacking Executives Were the Ones in Charge|by Michael Grabell and Bernice Yeung|December 21, 2020|ProPublica
The way you carried that doll everywhere until it was gray, and the dress was rags—that, they can tell you about, but they never really understand why.
Dark spaces on the map|Katie McLean|December 18, 2020|MIT Technology Review
Instead of buying paper towels, tear up old t-shirts to use as rags.
Trying to shop sustainably? Here’s what you need to consider.|Sarah Kaplan|November 20, 2020|Washington Post

Though it ultimately ran into a World Series buzz saw in the form of the Philadelphia Phillies, that team enjoyed one of the best rags-to-riches runs in baseball history.
The 2020 Rays Are Doing More With Less, Even More Than Usual|Neil Paine (neil.paine@fivethirtyeight.com)|October 13, 2020|FiveThirtyEight
Then Ziegler tosses the buff LaBeouf around like a rag doll.
Sia and Shia LaBeouf’s Pedophilia Nontroversy Over ‘Elastic Heart’|Marlow Stern|January 9, 2015|DAILY BEAST
Plus the notion of the poor little guy surrounded by a rag-tag pack of true believers is an American favorite.
Honey Boo Boo, Snake Oil, and Ebola: The Weird World of Young Living Essential Oils|Kent Sepkowitz|December 5, 2014|DAILY BEAST
He stuck the barrel of the gun out his window and started wiping it down with a rag.
A Shooting on a Tribal Land Uncovers Feds Running Wild|Caitlin Dickson|August 26, 2014|DAILY BEAST
In 1992, she was spotted by Sassy magazine, and became a model/intern for the fashion rag.
Chloe Sevigny on ‘The Cosmopolitans,’ New York’s Frat Boy Takeover, and ‘Asshole’ Michael Alig|Marlow Stern|August 24, 2014|DAILY BEAST
You should be so proud of yourself working for an illegitimate rag like the Daily Beast.
Dear Moon Landing Deniers: Sorry I Called You Moon Landing Deniers|Olivia Nuzzi|July 29, 2014|DAILY BEAST
The early pump had rag balls, in keeping with the mechanical ignorance of the time, and suitable to man's power.
Life of Richard Trevithick, Volume II (of 2)|Francis Trevithick
The large size of the rag-wheel gave the rapidly revolving chain and balls a great speed.
Life of Richard Trevithick, Volume II (of 2)|Francis Trevithick
Strain the mixture through a linen rag several times; adding, at the last operation, two ounces of bear's grease.
The Ladies' Book of Etiquette, and Manual of Politeness|Florence Hartley
Away off the bed, over the bright rag carpet, and past the red fire, safely and swiftly they trotted.
Seven O'Clock Stories|Robert Gordon Anderson
It is a common practice in erecting buildings with a facing of Kentish rag rubble to back up the stonework with bricks.
Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 4, Part 3|Various

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

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

British slang esp nautical a flag or ensign

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

Word Origin for rag

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) /

verb rags, ragging or ragged (tr)

to draw attention facetiously and persistently to the shortcomings or alleged shortcomings of (a person)

British to play rough practical jokes on

noun

British a boisterous practical joke, esp one on a fellow student

(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

Word Origin for rag

C18: of uncertain origin

British Dictionary definitions for rag (3 of 4)

rag³

/ (ræɡ) jazz /

noun

a piece of ragtime music

verb rags, ragging or ragged

(tr) to compose or perform in ragtime

Word Origin for rag

C20: shortened from ragtime

British Dictionary definitions for rag (4 of 4)

rag⁴

/ (ræɡ) /

noun

a roofing slate that is rough on one side

Word Origin for rag

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

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

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rag

noun