Definition of rag - Reverso English Dictionary
Noun
1.
cleaningpiece of old cloth used for cleaning
- She used a rag to wipe the table.
2.
tattered clothesold torn clothes or fabric pieces
- He wore rags and looked very poor.
3.
- He dismissed the article as gossip from a cheap rag..
4.
menstrual productUS sanitary napkin or padUS
- She discreetly carried a rag in her bag.
5.
- They played a rag on their friend.
6.
- They attended a rag with lively music.
7.
stage drapeTECH. theater curtainTECH.
- The rag fell, signaling the end of the act.
8.
musicTECH. ragtime music pieceTECH.
- The pianist played a lively rag.
9.
metal edgeTECH. rough edge in metalworkingTECH.
- The metal sheet had a rag that needed smoothing.
10.
ragstoneTECH. UK coarse rock typeTECH. UK
- The wall was built using rag.
11.
- He lost the game with a rag as his kicker.
12.
- He handed over a rag to pay for the meal.
Verb
1.
- The older siblings would often rag the youngest for fun..
2.
drivingtr. UK drive a vehicle aggressively or recklesslytr. UK
- He likes to rag his car on weekends.
3.
decoratingtr. TECH. dab paint on a surface using a cloth for texturetr. TECH.
- She decided to rag the walls for a textured look.
4.
musictr./intr. TECH. play or compose music in a syncopated styletr./intr. TECH.
- The band loves to rag their tunes for fun.
Images of rag

piece of old cloth used for cleaning 
old torn clothes or fabric pieces 
theater curtain 
rough edge in metalworking 
coarse rock type
Expressions with rag
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become suddenly very angry or upset
He tends to lose rag when things go wrong.
complain about something persistently
He tends to rag on about the weather every day.
the fashion industry, especially women's clothing
She has worked in the rag trade for years.
something that causes anger or strong irritation in someone
His rude comments were a red rag to a bull for her.
in a limp and uncontrolled manner
The child fell from the swing like a rag doll.
lacking firmness or strength like a soft cloth
After the marathon, he felt limp as a rag.
in a bad mood possibly due to menstruation
He's avoiding her because she's on the rag.
piece of cloth used to clean surfaces
She wiped the table with a rag cloth.
piece of cloth soaked with water
She wiped the table with a wet rag.
old piece of cloth used for cleaning
She wiped the table with any old rag.
tease or make fun of someone about something
They always rag about his new haircut.
rug made from fabric scraps
She placed a colorful rag rug in the hallway.
something that provokes anger or annoyance
Waving a red rag at a bull is a dangerous act..
book with fabric pages for young children
The toddler loved her colorful rag book.
very likely to make someone angry or upset
That comment is like a red rag to a bull for him.
talk in a relaxed way
We sat on the porch to chew the rag after dinner.
using almost no money, fuel, or other necessary supplies
The charity operates on the smell of an oily rag.
proceed slowly to waste time
He tried to rag the puck during the meeting to avoid decisions.
university event for charity fundraising
During rag week, students organized a charity concert.
cloth or paper item used to wipe nasal mucus
He grabbed a snot rag to wipe his runny nose.
cloth worn on the head for style, protection, or hair care
He wore a do-rag to keep his waves neat.
student event day with fundraising and celebrations at end of rag week
Rag day is the highlight of the university calendar.
decorative technique applying color with twisted fabric to create marbled patterns
She rag-rolled the hallway to get a soft marbled look.
cloth used to remove dust before painting
Use a tack rag to clean the wood before painting.
Origin of rag
Old Norse, rögg (shaggy tuft)
Terms with rag included in their meaning
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Examples of rag in a sentence
The mechanic wiped his hands with a greasy rag. She used old rags to clean the windows. The scarecrow was dressed in colorful rags. That rag is full of sensational stories. She threw the rag into the trash. She realized she needed a rag during her shopping trip.
The store ran out of her preferred brand of rag. The rag they pulled was harmless but funny. During the party, a rag was played on the host. The college hosted a rag to celebrate the semester's end. She organized a rag for her birthday party. The rag rose, revealing the elaborate set design. As the rag descended, the audience erupted in applause. She composed a new rag for the upcoming concert. The band included a classic rag in their setlist. He filed down the rag for safety. The rag was sharp and dangerous. The foundation was laid with rag for stability. Builders prefer rag for its durability. He discarded a rag, hoping for a better draw. The player sighed, holding a rag in his hand. He flashed a rag to impress his friends. She found a rag in her old coat pocket. They would rag him about his new haircut. She liked to rag her friend about his cooking skills. Teenagers often rag their bikes around the park. He would rag the old truck through the muddy fields. They decided to rag the old furniture for a vintage effect. He learned to rag the canvas to create unique patterns. She learned to rag on the piano from her jazz teacher. They decided to rag the melody for a unique sound.
View all translations of rag
Click below to see the appropriate translations facing each meaning.
- French:chiffon, taquiner, ...
- German:Lappen, necken, ...
- Italian:straccio, stuzzicare, ...
- Spanish:trapo, bromear, ...
- Portuguese:trapo, brincar com, ...
- Chinese:抹布, 戏弄, ...
- Japanese:ぼろ布, からかう, ...
- Arabic:خِرْقَة, مازَحَ, ...
- Hebrew:סְמַרְטוּט, לְצַחֵק עַל, ...
- Russian:тряпка, дразнить, ...
- Ukrainian:ганчірка, дражнити, ...
- Hindi:चिथड़ा, चिढ़ाना, ...

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