adjective
tattered
TAT-erd/ˈtætərd/
Torn or worn into ragged condition.
The jacket's sleeves and hem are tattered.
Etymology
Tatter meant a torn strip hanging from a garment. The adjective arose from that noun or its Scandinavian source, turning the image of hanging rags into a description of something ragged and worn.
In context
if you pull the blade away from the main stem you'll see this little membrane sticking up and that membrane is kind of torn and tattered at the tip
More examples
- She replaced the tattered blanket.
- A tattered paperback lay on the bench.
- His coat's sleeves were tattered at the cuffs.
Forms
tattered · more tattered · most tattered
tatter noun — a torn strip of cloth
Similar words
- ragged
- Both mean torn or frayed; tattered often suggests many worn strips or holes.
- threadbare
- Threadbare means worn thin; tattered emphasizes actual tearing.