Real Dictionary

fray
singular noun: The fray is an exciting or challenging activity, situation, or argument that you are involved in.
verb: If something such as cloth or rope frays, or if something frays it, its threads or fibres start to come apart from each other and spoil its appearance.
verb: If your nerves or your temper fray, or if something frays them, you become nervous or easily annoyed because of mental strain and anxiety.

fray in American English 1
a noisy quarrel or fight; brawl
intransitive verb: to fight or brawl
noun: a fight, battle, or skirmish
transitive verb: to frighten

fray in American English 2
a frayed place, as in cloth
to make or become worn, ragged, or raveled by rubbing
intransitive verb: to become frayed, as cloth; ravel out
noun: a frayed part, as in cloth
transitive verb: to wear (cloth, rope, etc.) to loose, raveled threads or fibers at the edge or end; cause to ravel out

fray in British English 1
noun: a noisy quarrel

fray in British English 2
noun: a frayed place, as in cloth
verb: to wear or cause to wear away into tatters or loose threads, esp at an edge or end