1 if cloth, etc frays or becomes frayed, some of the threads at the end start to come apart （布等的末端）磨散，磨损: This shirt is beginning to fray at the cuffs. 这件衬衣的袖口快要磨破了。 [T] a frayed rope 磨损的绳子

2 if a person's nerves, etc fray or become frayed, he/she starts to get annoyed 使烦躁；使（神经）紧张: Tempers began to fray towards the end of the match. 比赛快要结束的时候，人们的心情开始紧张起来。