rag (noun, verb) /ræg/

A rag is a piece of cloth, especially one that is old or torn. In its plural form, rags are tattered or torn clothing. Informally, a rag is a newspaper or magazine thought of as being of low or poor quality. As a verb, also informally, it means ‘to scold’ and also ‘to tease,’ although both these senses are now dated.

Example sentences

• The mechanic wiped his greasy hands on a rag.
• The poor child was dressed in rags.
• Why are you reading that dreadful rag? There are plenty of good newspapers you could read instead.
• Stop ragging me about the work; I'll get it done as soon as I can.
• Billy's classmates ragged him about coming last in the race.

Words often used with rag

chew the rag (US): talk, chat. Example: “We spent the afternoon in the bar, chewing the rag.”

from rags to riches: from poverty to wealth. Example: “That entrepreneur was born into a very poor family, but she had a great idea for a business when she left school and went from rags to riches in just a few years.”

lose your rag (UK): get angry. Example: “I’m sorry I spilled your drink; it was an accident. There’s no need to lose your rag!”

on the rag: menstruating. Example: “Can we stop at a drug store? I’m on the rag and I forgot to bring any sanitary pads with me.”

Did you know?

Rag-and-bone men used to collect unwanted household items, such as old rags, bones, and scrap metal. They would often do this on foot or with a horse and cart. They would then sell the items. Rags could be used for making rag paper (paper made from cotton or used cloth) and bones could be used for making items such as knife handles and metal could be melted down and reused

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rag¹ /ræg/  n. 

1. a piece of cloth, esp. one that is torn or worn:[countable]Get a rag and start dusting with it.[uncountable]a piece of rag.
2. rags, [plural] tattered clothing:dressed in rags.
3. [countable][Informal.]a newspaper or magazine thought of as being of low or poor quality.

Idioms

4. from rags to riches, from a state of poverty to that of wealth.

rag² /ræg/  v. [~ + object], ragged, rag•ging. [Informal.]

1. Informal Termsto scold.
2. Informal Termsto tease.

rag⁴ /ræg/  n. [countable]

1. Music and Dancea piece of music in ragtime.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2018

rag¹  (rag), n. 

1. a worthless piece of cloth, esp. one that is torn or worn.
2. rags, ragged or tattered clothing:The tramp was dressed in rags.
3. any article of apparel regarded deprecatingly or self-deprecatingly, esp. a dress:It's just an old rag I had in the closet.
4. a shred, scrap, or fragmentary bit of anything.
5. Informal Terms
   • 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?
6. a person of shabby or exhausted appearance.
7. Buildinga large roofing slate that has one edge untrimmed.
8. chew the rag. See  chew (def. 9).
9. from rags to riches, from extreme poverty to great wealth:He went from rags to riches in only three years.

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

rag²  (rag), v.,  ragged, rag•ging, n. [Informal.]
v.t. 

1. Informal Termsto scold.
2. Informal Termsto subject to a teasing, esp. in an intense or prolonged way (often fol. by on):Some of the boys were ragging on him about his haircut.
3. Informal Terms, British Terms[Brit.]to torment with jokes;
   play crude practical jokes on.

n. 

4. Informal Terms, British Terms[Brit.]an act of ragging.

•  origin, originally uncertain 1790–1800

rag³  (rag), v.t.,  ragged, rag•ging. 

1. Metallurgy, Miningto break up (lumps of ore) for sorting. [1870–75;
   orig. uncert.]

rag⁴  (rag), n., v.,  ragged, rag•ging. 
n. 

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

v.t. 

2. 
   to play (music) in ragtime.

•  shortened form of ragtime 1895–1900

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

rag /ræɡ/n

1. a small piece of cloth, such as one torn from a discarded garment, or such pieces of cloth collectively
2. (as modifier): a rag doll, a rag book, rag paper
3. a fragmentary piece of any material; scrap; shred
4. informal a newspaper or other journal, esp one considered as worthless, sensational, etc
5. informal an item of clothing
6. informal a handkerchief
7. brit slang esp a flag or ensign

Etymology: 14th Century: probably back formation from ragged, from Old English raggig; related to Old Norse rögg tuft

rag /ræɡ/vb (rags, ragging, ragged)(transitive)

1. to draw attention facetiously and persistently to the shortcomings or alleged shortcomings of (a person)
2. brit to play rough practical jokes on

n

1. brit 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
3. (as modifier): rag day

Etymology: 18th Century: of uncertain origin

rag /ræɡ/n

1. a piece of ragtime music

vb (rags, ragging, ragged)

1. (transitive) to compose or perform in ragtime

Etymology: 20th Century: shortened from ragtime