rag
n 1: a small piece of cloth [syn: {shred}, {tag}, {tag end}, {tatter}]
2: (British) a week at British universities during which
side-shows and processions of floats are organized to
raise money for charities
3: newspaper with half-size pages [syn: {tabloid}, {sheet}]
4: music with a syncopated melody (usually for the piano) [syn:
{ragtime}]
5: (British) a boisterous practical joke (especially by college
students)
v 1: annoy constantly [syn: {torment}, {tantalize}, {bedevil}, {crucify},
{dun}, {frustrate}]
2: cause annoyance in; disturb, esp. by minor irritations:
"Mosquitoes buzzing in my ear really bothers me"; "It
irritates me that she never closes the door after she
leaves" [syn: {annoy}, {get to}, {bother}, {get at}, {irritate},
{rile}, {nark}, {nettle}, {gravel}, {vex}, {devil}]
3: play in ragtime, as of a musical piece
4: harass with persistent criticism or carping; "The children
teased the new teacher"; "Don't ride me so hard over my
failure" [syn: {tease}, {cod}, {tantalize}, {bait}, {taunt},
{twit}, {rally}, {ride}]
5: censure severely or angrily; "The mother scolded the child
for entering the stranger's car"; "The deputy ragged the
Prime Minister"; "The customer dressed down the waiter for
bringing cold soup"; "check" is archaic [syn: {rebuke}, {check},
{reproof}, {lecture}, {reprimand}, {jaw}, {dress down}, {scold},
{chide}, {berate}, {bawl out}, {remonstrate}, {chew out},
{chew up}, {have words}, {lambaste}, {lambast}]
6: break into lumps before sorting, as of ore