things made of paper or cloth that are in bad condition► shabby clothes, books etc that look shabby are no longer in good condition because they are old and have been used a lot: · John was standing in the doorway in his shabby blue suit.· She wore shabby black clothes, with holes in the elbows of her jacket.
► worn something such as material or cloth that is worn is thinner or weaker in particular parts as a result of being used a lot over a long time: · There was a worn Persian rug on the parquet floor.· We used to cut up worn blankets to make sleeping bags for the children.· The brake pads are very worn.
► tattered clothes or books that are tattered are old and torn: · The old man clutched a tattered copy of "War and Peace".· The shirt was now tattered beyond recognition.
► threadbare clothes, curtains, carpets etc that are threadbare have become extremely thin and weak because they have been used so much: · She stood shivering in her threadbare dress.· There was a clean but threadbare rug on the floor beside the bed.
► tatty British clothes or books that are tatty are in bad condition and slightly torn because they have been used a lot: · At the window of the cottage hang tatty, faded curtains.· Some of our textbooks are starting to look rather tatty.
► battered something that is battered is in bad condition and looks old especially because it has been used a lot: · He carried the same battered green journal with him on all his travels.· a battered old suitcase
► dog-eared a book, page, photograph etc that is dog-eared is torn and bent at the edges because it has been used a lot: · Professor Brightly walked into the lecture hall with a pile of dog-eared notes under his arm.· On the other wall was a dog-eared calendar with faded pictures.