Synonyms/Hypernyms (Ordered by Estimated Frequency) of noun fray
1 sense of fray
Sense 1
affray, disturbance, fray, ruffle -- (a noisy fight)
=> fight, fighting, combat, scrap -- (the act of fighting; any contest or struggle; "a fight broke out at the hockey game"; "there was fighting in the streets"; "the unhappy couple got into a terrible scrap")
Synonyms/Hypernyms (Ordered by Estimated Frequency) of verb fray
2 senses of fray
Sense 1
fray, frazzle -- (wear away by rubbing; "The friction frayed the sleeve")
=> break, wear, wear out, bust, fall apart -- (go to pieces; "The lawn mower finally broke"; "The gears wore out"; "The old chair finally fell apart completely")
Sense 2
rub, fray, fret, chafe, scratch -- (cause friction; "my sweater scratches")
=> touch, adjoin, meet, contact -- (be in direct physical contact with; make contact; "The two buildings touch"; "Their hands touched"; "The wire must not contact the metal cover"; "The surfaces contact at this point")