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Fray vs Shred - What's the difference?

fray | shred |

As nouns the difference between fray and shred

is that fray is affray; broil; contest; combat; brawl; melee while shred is a long, narrow piece cut or torn off; a strip.

As verbs the difference between fray and shred

is that fray is to unravel; used particularly for the edge of something made of cloth, or the end of a rope while shred is to cut or tear into narrow and long pieces or strips.

fray

English

Etymology 1

From (etyl) frai, aphetic variant of affray.

Noun

(en noun)
  • Affray; broil; contest; combat; brawl; melee.
  • Though they did not know the reason for the dispute, they did not hesitate to leap into the fray .
  • * Shakespeare
  • Who began this bloody fray ?
  • * {{quote-news
  • , year=2010 , date=December 29 , author=Mark Vesty , title=Wigan 2 - 2 Arsenal , work=BBC citation , page= , passage=Wigan, unbeaten in five games at the DW Stadium, looked well in control but the catalyst for Arsenal's improvement finally came when Diaby left the field with a calf injury and Jack Wilshere came into the fray , bringing some much needed determination and urgency to lacklustre Arsenal. }}
  • (archaic) fright
  • Etymology 2

    From (etyl) fraien, from (etyl) frayer, from (etyl) .

    Verb

    (en verb)
  • To unravel; used particularly for the edge of something made of cloth, or the end of a rope.
  • The ribbon frayed at the cut end.
  • (figuratively) To cause exhaustion, wear out (a person's mental strength).
  • The stressful day ended in frayed nerves. (Metaphorical use; nerves are visualised as strings)
  • (archaic) frighten; alarm
  • * 1662 , , Book II, A Collection of Several Philosophical Writings of Dr. Henry More, p. 63:
  • "Besides, all the wit and Philosophy in the world can never demonstrate, that the killing and slaughtering of a Beast is anymore then the striking of a Bush where a Bird's Nest is, where you fray away the Bird, and then seize upon the empty Nest."
  • * Spenser
  • What frays ye, that were wont to comfort me affrayed?
  • To bear the expense of; to defray.
  • * Massinger
  • The charge of my most curious and costly ingredients frayed , I shall acknowledge myself amply satisfied.
  • To rub.
  • * Sir Walter Scott
  • We can show the marks he made / When 'gainst the oak his antlers frayed .

    shred

    English

    (wikipedia shred)

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • A long, narrow piece cut or torn off; a strip.
  • * Francis Bacon
  • shreds of tanned leather
  • In general, a fragment; a piece; a particle; a very small amount.
  • There isn't a shred of evidence to support his claims.
    (Shakespeare)

    Synonyms

    * See also .

    Verb

  • To cut or tear into narrow and long pieces or strips.
  • (Chaucer)
  • *
  • (obsolete) To lop; to prune; to trim.
  • (snowboarding) To ride aggressively.
  • (bodybuilding) To drop fat and water weight before a competition.
  • (music, slang) To play very fast (especially guitar solos in rock and metal genres).
  • Derived terms

    * shredder

    References

    Anagrams

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