a boisterous practical joke (especially by college students);
a small piece of cloth or paper;
newspaper with half-size pages;
music with a syncopated melody (usually for the piano);
a week at British universities during which side-shows and processions of floats are organized to raise money for charities;
break into lumps before sorting; "rag ore";
censure severely or angrily; "The mother scolded the child for entering a stranger''s car"; "The deputy ragged the Prime Minister"; "The customer dressed down the waiter for bringing cold soup";
harass with persistent criticism or carping; "The children teased the new teacher"; "Don''t ride me so hard over my failure"; "His fellow workers razzed him when he wore a jacket and tie";
play in ragtime; "rag that old tune";
cause annoyance in; disturb, especially by minor irritations; "Mosquitoes buzzing in my ear really bothers me"; "It irritates me that she never closes the door after she leaves";
treat cruelly; "The children tormented the stuttering teacher";
