raggedrag‧ged /ˈræɡɪd/ adjective 
the ragged blankets on the bed a raggedy hat2people wearing clothes that are old and torn: Crowds of ragged children played among the rocks.3uneven (also raggedy) having a rough uneven edge or surface: The old photograph looked a little ragged at the edges. a ragged hole raggedy hair4not regular not regular or together: The crowd gave a ragged cheer. ragged breathing5tired informal tired after using a lot of effort: He looked ragged, so I told him to go to bed. He ran United’s defence ragged (=made them do a lot of work).6be on the ragged edge American English informal to be feeling very tired or upset—raggedly adverb: raggedly dressed She was breathing raggedly.—raggedness noun [uncountable]
EXAMPLES FROM OTHER DICTIONARIES
- a ragged shoreline
- A man in ragged clothes was begging on the corner.
- Alex was wearing ragged jeans with holes in the knees.
- Bev's voice was ragged with fatigue.
- He touched his ragged hat as she passed.
- Much of Cassidy's concert seemed ragged and under-rehearsed.
- She looked quite ragged and unkempt.
- The blanket she wore over her shoulders was ragged and filthy.
- But, for the data analyst who is prepared to use judgement as well as arithmetic, smoothing can clarify many otherwise ragged situations.
- Dead, ragged heads of the climbing hydrangea can be removed, cutting where the stem joins the main branch.
- He was educated at Guthries, a school for ragged boys, where he was subjected to frequent beatings.
- The three boys should have been at school with their ragged clothes, crew cuts and sullen eyes.
- Through his increasingly deep, ragged breathing, he said her name once, twice.
- Trim ragged lawn edges with the aid of a half-moon edging iron.
Longman Language Activatorwhen something has been torn
when something made of cloth or paper has been torn: · He was wearing torn trousers and a ragged jacket.· The pages of the book were torn and faded.get torn: · If the cover of a book gets torn, the library sends it to be repaired.
if a piece of cloth or paper is in shreds , it has been torn and damaged so much that it has almost fallen apart: · The curtains hung in shreds and the carpet was worn thin.· The clothes were handed down in the family, and by the time they reached the last child, they were in shreds.
clothes or things made of cloth that are frayed are torn a little along the edges, usually because they have been used a lot: · He had on frayed jeans and an old white shirt.frayed at the cuffs/collar/edges etc: · The jacket was a little frayed at the cuffs.
cloth, paper, or a piece of clothing that is tattered is torn in many places, especially because it has been used a lot: · A man in tattered blue dungarees was busy in the garage.· The old diary was yellowed and tattered.
clothes or things made of cloth that are ragged are torn and untidy, often because the people who own them are very poor: · The blanket she wore over her shoulders was ragged and filthy.· A man in ragged clothes was begging on the corner.
WORD SETSaccessory, nounalter, verbappliqué, nounarmband, nounarmhole, nounbag, nounbejewelled, adjectivebillfold, nounboater, nounbow, nounbowler, nounbow tie, nounbraid, nounbraid, verbbreast-pocket, nounbrim, nounbum bag, nounbust, nounbutton, nounbutton-down, adjectivebuttonhole, nouncape, nounchecked, adjectivecivvies, nounclasp, nouncleat, nounclingy, adjectiveclothes brush, nounclothes hanger, nounclutch bag, nouncoat check, nouncoat hanger, nouncoatroom, nouncobbler, nouncockade, nouncocktail dress, nouncodpiece, nouncollar, nouncollar stud, nouncolour-coordinated, adjectivecolourfast, adjectivecorsage, nouncostume, nouncoveralls, nouncravat, nouncrinkly, adjectivecut, noundark glasses, noundarn, verbdarn, noundart, noundécolletage, noundetailing, noundiadem, noundiaphanous, adjectivedishevelled, adjectivedowdy, adjectivedown-at-heel, adjectivedress, noundress, verbdressed, adjectivedressmaker, noundress sense, noundressy, adjectiveepaulette, nounfacing, nounfancy dress, nounfinery, nounfleecy, adjectivefop, noungarb, noungather, verbgingham, noungold-rimmed, adjectivegranny, adjectivegroom, verbhabit, nounhandbag, nounherringbone, nounknit, verbknitwear, nounline, verblined, adjectiveliner, nounlingerie, nounlining, nounlivery, nounlocker room, nounmade-to-measure, adjectivemade-to-order, adjectivemakeover, nounmodel, nounmodel, verbmodelling, nounmohair, nounname tag, nounnatty, adjectiveneckline, nounout, adverbpack, nounparasol, nounpinstripe, nounplaid, nounpleat, nounpleated, adjectiveplume, nounplumed, adjectiveplunging neckline, nounpocket, nounpocketbook, nounpocket handkerchief, nounpolka dot, nounpompom, nounpopper, nounpouch, nounpower dressing, nounpress, verbproof, verbpurse, nounraffish, adjectiveragged, adjectiverail, nounretro, adjectivesalon, nounsensible, adjectivesequin, nounset, verbshoeshine, nounshoulder bag, nounshoulder pad, nounshoulder strap, nounsingle-breasted, adjectivesize, nounsleeve, nounsleeveless, adjectivesling, nounsmocking, nounsoigné, adjectivespangle, nounsportswear, nounstarch, verbstitch, nounstud, nounstudded, adjectivetack, verbtail, nountailor, nountailored, adjectivetailoring, nountapered, adjectivetartan, nountatters, nounthread, nounthread, verbtie-dye, verbtie-pin, nountoe, nountoecap, nountoggle, nountongue, nountoupée, nountrainer, nountrimmings, nountrouser press, nounturn-up, nountweedy, adjectiveunbecoming, adjectiveundress, noununmentionables, nounvalet, nounwallet, nounwear, verbwearer, nounweatherproof, adjectivewell-dressed, adjectivewell-groomed, adjectivewristband, nounzip, nounzipper, noun
COLLOCATIONS FROM THE ENTRY He ran United’s defence ragged (=made them do a lot of work).COLLOCATIONS FROM THE CORPUSNOUN
1clothes etc (also rag‧ged‧y /ˈræɡədi/ especially American English) torn and in bad condition: He ran United’s defence ragged (=made them do a lot of work).· Text may also be set centred to the page leaving a ragged edge on both the left and the right.· But by the next morning sleep had smoothed over the ragged edges of Folly's doubt.
the ragged blankets on the bed a raggedy hat2people wearing clothes that are old and torn: Crowds of ragged children played among the rocks.3uneven (also raggedy) having a rough uneven edge or surface: The old photograph looked a little ragged at the edges. a ragged hole raggedy hair4not regular not regular or together: The crowd gave a ragged cheer. ragged breathing5tired informal tired after using a lot of effort: He looked ragged, so I told him to go to bed. He ran United’s defence ragged (=made them do a lot of work).6be on the ragged edge American English informal to be feeling very tired or upset—raggedly adverb: raggedly dressed She was breathing raggedly.—raggedness noun [uncountable]