rag

[ rag ]

/ ræg /

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.

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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

1275–1325; Middle English ragge < Scandinavian; compare Norwegian, Swedish ragg coarse hair < Old Norse rǫgg

Words nearby rag

raft ice, rafter, rafting, raftsman, rafvr, rag, rag bolt, rag doll, rag gourd, rag paper, rag rug

Definition for rag (2 of 4)

rag²

[ rag ]

/ ræg /

Informal.

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

to scold.

to subject to a teasing, especially in an intense or prolonged way (often followed by on): Some of the boys were ragging on him about his haircut.

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

noun

British. an act of ragging.

Origin of rag

First recorded in 1790–1800; 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. 2020

Example sentences from the Web for rag

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
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
Urban children kick a can on concrete and rural kids kick a rag wrapped around a rag wrapped around a rag, barefoot, on dirt.
Why Americans Should Love the World Cup|Sean Wilsey|June 12, 2014|DAILY BEAST
That Westbrook would be sitting front row at the Rag Bone and Altuzarra shows during New York Fashion Week?
NBA Style: Full-Court Dress|Erin Cunningham|May 11, 2014|DAILY BEAST

The next photo: 389 stands holding hands with a man slightly out of frame—a giant of a man—whose eyes are blindfolded with a rag.
Khmer Rouge’s Bloodiest Murderers on Trial|Michael Moynihan|October 20, 2013|DAILY BEAST
Then she and Aunt Juliet rag the other servants until things get smoothed out again.
Priscilla's Spies|George A. Birmingham
I had a stick, and I washed it at every brook I came to, and one woman gave me a rag to put on it.
Little Men|Louisa May Alcott
Where the parts have become dirty, they should be brushed clean with a clean brush or rag.
Total Per Cent Lambing Rules|Thomas Boylan
The sixth—(good fellow, without a rag on his back)—does not care a straw where the march goes.
Blackwood's Edinburgh Magazine, Volume 70, No. 433, November 1851|Various
"Then he must have had it in his breech-cloth," remarked the corporal seriously, for not a rag besides had he about him.
Hardscrabble|John Richardson

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