rag ‧ ged /ˈræɡəd, ˈræɡɪd/ BrE AmE adjective
1 . CLOTHES ETC ( also rag‧ged‧y /ˈræɡədi, ˈræɡɪdi/ especially American English ) torn and in bad condition:
the ragged blankets on the bed
a raggedy hat
2 . PEOPLE wearing clothes that are old and torn:
Crowds of ragged children played among the rocks.
3 . UNEVEN ( also raggedy ) having a rough uneven edge or surface:
The old photograph looked a little ragged at the edges.
a ragged hole
raggedy hair
4 . NOT REGULAR not regular or together:
The crowd gave a ragged cheer.
ragged breathing
5 . TIRED informal tired after using a lot of effort:
He looked ragged, so I told him to go to bed.
He ran United’s defence ragged (=made them do a lot of work) .
6 . be on the ragged edge American English informal to be feeling very tired or upset
—raggedly adverb :
raggedly dressed
She was breathing raggedly.
—raggedness noun [uncountable]