/ ˈrægɪd; NAmE / adjective
1.
( of clothes ) old and torn
SYN shabby
2.
( of people ) wearing old or torn clothes :
ragged children
3.
having an outline, an edge or a surface that is not straight or even :
ragged clouds
a ragged coastline
4.
not smooth or controlled :
I could hear the sound of his ragged breathing.
Their performance was still very ragged.
5.
( informal ) very tired, especially after physical effort
► rag·ged·ly adverb :
raggedly dressed
She was breathing raggedly.
► rag·ged·ness noun [ U ]
•
IDIOMS
- run sb ragged
••
WORD ORIGIN
Middle English : of Scandinavian origin; compare with Old Norse ro̧gvathr tufted and Norwegian ragget shaggy.