Word
tattered
Phoneticstat·tered, stress on the first syllable
US/ˈtætɝd/
UK/tˈætəd/
Definition
adj. describing something that is very worn out, torn, or damaged. You use this to talk about clothes, books, or old buildings that look messy and broken.
adj. severely worn, torn, or frayed. Often used to describe physical objects that have lost their original appearance due to age or heavy use.
Examples
“The old book has tattered pages.”
“The hikers returned with tattered clothes and muddy boots after their long journey through the forest.”
“The once-grand cathedral stood in a state of tattered decay, its once-vibrant frescoes now faded to ghostly outlines on the crumbling stone walls.”
Examples
simple
“The old book has tattered pages.”
contextual
“The hikers returned with tattered clothes and muddy boots after their long journey through the forest.”
complex
“The once-grand cathedral stood in a state of tattered decay, its once-vibrant frescoes now faded to ghostly outlines on the crumbling stone walls.”
Etymology
From Middle English tatered, tatird, from Old Norse tǫturr. Originally, it was derived from the noun, but it was later reanalysed as a past participle (tatter + -ed), whereafter the verb came into being. Compare tatter.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.B2 FirstIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.5.5–6.5TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 4.0–4.572–94TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.785–944
- Frequency
- Occasional
- Level
- B2 · Upper Intermediate
- Updated
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QR code
englishreference.com/q/tattered