From Longman Dictionary of Contemporary Englishldoce_125_afrayfray1 /freɪ/ verb [intransitive, transitive] 1 DCCDHif cloth or other material frays, or if something frays it, the threads become loose because the material is old The collar had started to fray on Ed’s coat. He had frayed the bottom of his jeans.2 
CONTROLif someone’s temper or nerves fray, or if something frays them, they become annoyed Tempers soon began to fray. —frayed adjective The carpet was badly frayed.→ See Verb table
CONTROLif someone’s temper or nerves fray, or if something frays them, they become annoyed Tempers soon began to fray. —frayed adjective The carpet was badly frayed.→ See Verb tableExamples from the Corpus
fray• It was only three o'clock and tempers were already beginning to fray.• Alyssia felt her temper begin to fray.• They cut a zig-zag edge to prevent fraying.• With basic needs in increasingly short supply, the social fabric of Cairo is showing signs of fraying.• Anyone working with Mr Gates must take decisions on the spot; studies and committees fray the billionaire's patience.Tempers ... fray• We had been waiting an hour, the temperature rising, tempers fraying.• It was on the second day that tempers, already frayed, finally ripped.• With tempers fraying, it was decided to return to the question today.frayfray2 noun → the frayExamples from the Corpus
fray• The banquet recommenced but the fray had dampened and soured the atmosphere.• Thousands of ordinary people were forced into the fray.• Then King jumped into the fray and tried to persuade Republicans to replace Gingrich with Rep.• Finally, Yusuf led into the fray his own Black Guards, consisting of 4000 men.• Luckily, the boys heard the scuffle and ran out to throw themselves into the fray.• Kazanow grins sheepishly at the cheers before rejoining the fray below, the easy warmth between band and benefactor plainly apparent.• He is shaken, and resolves to return to the fray.Origin fray1 (1400-1500) French frayer, from Latin fricare; → FRICTION fray2 (1300-1400) affray 