Fray at/around the edges/seams informal
To become shabby or worn along the edges when talking about fabric or threads
It's been 5 years since we changed the window curtains. They are now frayed around the edges.
To become weaker or less effective, or start to fail
Our friendship is starting to fray at the seams since Smith has blamed me for the failure of the contract.
Due to a lack of mutual understanding and trust, her marriage is fraying around the edges.
1. To fail completely
2. To become separated from something that was stuck to
1. If you say that something dies a natural death, you mean that it fails, fades away, or no longer exists.
2. If you say that someone dies a natural death, you mean that he dies because of disease or old age.
To be much less good than someone or something
To fail
The verb "fray" should be conjugated according to its tense.