Rag Very Common

Rag has 20 different meanings across 3 categories:

Definitions

Noun

a small piece of cloth or paper

rag shred tag tag end tatter

a week at British universities during which side-shows and processions of floats are organized to raise money for charities

rag rag week

music with a syncopated melody (usually for the piano)

ragtime rag

newspaper with half-size pages

tabloid rag sheet

a boisterous practical joke (especially by college students)

rag

Tattered clothes.

A coarse kind of rock, somewhat cellular in texture; ragstone.

A prank or practical joke.

An informal dance party featuring music played by African-American string bands.

In plain English: A rag is an old, torn piece of cloth used for cleaning things up.

"He used an old rag to wipe up the spilled milk from the floor."

Verb

treat cruelly

"The children tormented the stuttering teacher"

torment rag bedevil crucify dun frustrate

cause annoyance in; disturb, especially by minor irritations

"Mosquitoes buzzing in my ear really bothers me"

"It irritates me that she never closes the door after she leaves"

annoy rag get to bother get at irritate rile nark nettle gravel vex chafe devil

play in ragtime

"rag that old tune"

rag

harass with persistent criticism or carping

"The children teased the new teacher"

"Don't ride me so hard over my failure"

"His fellow workers razzed him when he wore a jacket and tie"

tease razz rag cod tantalize tantalise bait taunt twit rally ride

censure severely or angrily

"The mother scolded the child for entering a stranger's car"

"The deputy ragged the Prime Minister"

"The customer dressed down the waiter for bringing cold soup"

call on the carpet take to task rebuke rag trounce lecture reprimand jaw dress down call down scold chide berate bawl out remonstrate chew out chew up have words lambaste lambast

break into lumps before sorting

"rag ore"

rag

To decorate (a wall, etc.) by applying paint with a rag.

To break (ore) into lumps for sorting.

To scold or tell off; to torment; to banter.

To play or compose (a piece, melody, etc.) in syncopated time.

In plain English: To rag on someone means to tease, mock, or make fun of them repeatedly.

"The old man had to rag his rug with water and soap every Sunday morning."

Usage: This verb is almost exclusively used with musical contexts to describe playing a lively, syncopated tune and should not be confused with the more common meaning of tearing fabric apart. It often appears in phrases like "ragging on" or "to rag out," which carry specific rhythmic connotations rather than literal destructive actions.

Proper Noun

Synonym of Rag and Famish (“the Army and Navy Club in London, England”)

Example Sentences

"He used an old rag to wipe up the spilled milk from the floor." noun

"The old rag lay crumpled on the floor of the garage." noun

"She pulled a dirty rag from her pocket to wipe the spill." noun

"I need to buy a fresh rag before I start washing the car." noun

"The old man had to rag his rug with water and soap every Sunday morning." verb

Origin

The word "rag" comes from the Middle English ragge, which was borrowed directly from Old Norse for a tuft or shagginess. It entered modern usage as a term for torn pieces of cloth that resemble such rough, bristly textures.

Rhyming Words

brag frag drag crag prag parag shrag phrag scrag morag sprag toerag chirag cumrag do rag on rag defrag redrag updrag outbrag

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