A worn cloth or torn clothing, an informal name for a poor newspaper, an informal verb for teasing or scolding, a British student event, or a ragtime piece.
The rag included a parade and several sponsored challenges.
Similar words
scold
cloth
composition
newspaper
cleaning cloth
old clothes
charity event
ragtime piece
periodical
scraps
Meanings
Old piece of cloth
noun
everyday
neutral
A small torn or worn piece of cloth, often used for cleaning, wiping, or polishing.
Examples
He wiped the oil from his hands with a rag.
Keep an old rag in the garage for spills.
She polished the silver with a soft rag.
The mechanic tucked a dirty rag into his pocket.
Use a damp rag to clean the counter.
A torn T-shirt became a useful rag.
Similar words
cloth
wipe
duster
towel
scrap
wiper
cleaning cloth
Torn old clothes
noun
everyday
neutral
Old, torn, or very poor clothing, usually used in the plural form rags.
Examples
The children in the story were dressed in rags.
After the storm, his clothes were reduced to rags.
The actor wore rags for the prison scene.
She turned old rags into a patchwork quilt.
The phrase "from rags to riches" means rising from poverty to wealth.
His shirt hung in rags after the climb.
Similar words
tatters
shreds
worn clothes
old clothes
torn clothes
scraps
Low-quality newspaper
noun
business
informal
A newspaper or magazine considered cheap, sensational, or of poor quality.
Examples
The local rag printed another rumor about the mayor.
He called the tabloid a gossip rag.
That rag cares more about scandal than facts.
She refused to give an interview to the celebrity rag.
The story first appeared in a cheap rag.
Do not trust every headline in that rag.
Similar words
tabloid
newspaper
paper
periodical
gossip sheet
scandal sheet
Tease or scold
verb
everyday
informal
To tease, criticize, scold, or bother someone, often repeatedly and informally.
Examples
His friends ragged him about the missed shot.
Do not rag on her for one small mistake.
The editor ragged the writer for sloppy punctuation.
They kept ragging me about my old car.
He laughed when his brothers ragged on him.
The fans ragged the referee after the call.
Similar words
tease
mock
needle
scold
criticize
bother
chide
Student charity event
noun
everyday
informal
In British English, a student-organized event or period of playful activities, often used to raise money for charity.
Examples
The university rag raised thousands for charity.
Students organized a rag week each spring.
The rag included a parade and several sponsored challenges.
Older college stories describe noisy rags in the town square.
The committee planned the annual rag months in advance.
A harmless rag can still annoy local residents.
Similar words
prank
fundraiser
charity event
student event
stunt
jape
Ragtime composition
noun
literary
neutral
A piece of ragtime music, especially a syncopated piano composition.
Examples
The pianist ended the set with a lively rag.
Scott Joplin published many famous rags.
The band arranged the old rag for brass.
She practiced the syncopated rhythm of the rag.
The title of the rag appears on the sheet music.
Early rags helped shape American popular music.
Similar words
ragtime piece
ragtime tune
composition
piano rag
syncopated piece
Etymology
The cloth sense comes from Middle English ragge, probably from Old Norse rǫgg, meaning a tuft or shagginess. The verb meaning to scold or tease has uncertain origin. The music sense is shortened from ragtime, and the British student-event sense grew from older uses connected with noisy disorder or pranks.
FAQ
What does rag mean?
Rag can mean a worn piece of cloth, torn clothes, a poor newspaper, teasing or scolding, a British student event, or a ragtime piece.
What is the plural of rag?
The normal plural is rags. In the clothing sense, rags is much more common than the singular.
What does rag on someone mean?
To rag on someone means to tease, criticize, or bother that person repeatedly and informally.
Is rag rude for a newspaper?
Yes. Calling a newspaper a rag is informal and usually insulting.
What is a rag in music?
A rag is a piece of ragtime music, often a syncopated piano composition.
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