Meaning of 'rag'

noun

a boisterous practical joke (especially by college students)

noun

a small piece of cloth or paper

Synonyms: tag

noun

newspaper with half-size pages

Synonyms: sheet tabloid

noun

music with a syncopated melody (usually for the piano)

Synonyms: ragtime

noun

a week at British universities during which side-shows and processions of floats are organized to raise money for charities

Synonyms: rag week

verb

break into lumps before sorting

verb

censure severely or angrily

Synonyms: lecture jaw rebuke reproof reprimand scold dress down call on the carpet take to task trounce call down chide berate bawl out remonstrate chew out chew up have words lambaste lambast

verb

harass with persistent criticism or carping

Synonyms: rally

verb

play in ragtime

Example: "rag that old tune"

verb

cause annoyance in

Synonyms: fret bother devil chafe nark nettle gravel irritate get to vex rile annoy get at

verb

treat cruelly

Synonyms: torment