fray

Short definition from Wiktionary

Verb

To rub or wear away (something); to cause (something made of strands twisted or woven together, such as cloth or rope) to unravel through friction; also, to irritate (something) through chafing or rubbing; to chafe.
To rub or wear away (something); to cause (something made of strands twisted or woven together, such as cloth or rope) to unravel through friction; also, to irritate (something) through chafing or rubbing; to chafe: Of a deer: to rub (its antlers or head) against a tree, etc., to remove the velvet from antlers or to mark territory; also, to rub its antlers against (a tree, etc.) for that purpose.
To force or make (a path, way, etc.) through.
To bruise (someone or something); also, to take the virginity of (someone, usually a female person); to deflower.
To become unravelled or worn; to unravel.
To rub.
To rub: Of a deer: to rub its antlers against a tree, etc., to remove the velvet or to mark territory.
Of a person's mental strength, nerves, temper, etc.: to become exhausted or worn out.
To alarm or frighten (someone or something).
Often followed by away, off, or out: to frighten or scare (someone or something) away.
To assail or attack (someone or something); to drive (someone or something) away by attacking.
To chase (someone or something) away; to disperse.
To be afraid or frightened; to fear.
To make an assault or attack; also, to create a disturbance; to brawl, to fight.
To bear the expense of (something); to defray.

A consequence of rubbing, unravelling, or wearing away; a fraying; also, a place where fraying has occurred.
A noisy commotion, especially resulting from fighting; a brawl, a fight; also, a loud quarrel.
A heated argument; a war of words.
Conflict, disagreement.
An assault or attack.
A loud noise; a cacophony, a din.
Fright, terror; (countable) an instance of this.

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