fray

/freɪ/ v [I/T] (LOOSEN)

Definition

› to become or to cause the threads in cloth or rope to become slightly separated and loose at the edge or end: [I] All his shirts are fraying at the collar. [I] fig. My nerves are getting frayed (= I am becoming nervous) from the constant noise around here.

(Definition of fray v (LOOSEN) from the Cambridge Academic Content Dictionary © Cambridge University Press)