Cloth vs. Rag — What's the Difference?
By Tayyaba Rehman & Maham Liaqat — Updated on April 4, 2024
Cloth is a material made from threads that's used for making clothes, furnishings, etc., while a rag is a small piece of old cloth used for cleaning or wiping.
Difference Between Cloth and Rag
Table of Contents
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Key Differences
Cloth is a broad category of material that includes fabrics made from natural or synthetic fibers, used in a variety of applications from clothing to home furnishings. Whereas rags are typically made from discarded or old cloth that has been repurposed for cleaning, wiping, or other utilitarian tasks.
Cloth can be finely woven and comes in various grades and textures, suitable for fashion, decoration, and protective garments. On the other hand, rags are generally not concerned with aesthetic or comfort qualities; they are chosen for their absorbency and durability in cleaning tasks.
The production of cloth involves processes like spinning, weaving, and dyeing to create materials of specific qualities and designs. Meanwhile, rags are often by-products of other uses of cloth, created by cutting or tearing larger pieces into smaller ones for informal use.
Cloth serves as a primary material in industries such as fashion, home decor, and medical supplies, signifying its versatility and essential role in daily life. In contrast, rags are seen as secondary or tertiary products, valued more for their practical utility than their appearance or material quality.
While the value of cloth can vary widely based on its type, quality, and the labor involved in its creation, rags are typically low-cost or no-cost items, reflecting their status as recycled or reused materials.
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Comparison Chart
Material
Made from natural or synthetic fibers.
Made from used or discarded cloth.
Use
Used in clothing, furnishings, art, etc.
Used for cleaning, wiping, or as filler material.
Production
Involves processes like spinning, weaving, and dyeing.
Produced by repurposing or cutting old cloth.
Qualities
Varied textures and qualities for different applications.
Chosen for absorbency and durability, not appearance.
Value
Can be expensive based on type and production.
Generally low-cost, reflecting recycled status.
Compare with Definitions
Cloth
Also used symbolically to indicate profession or status.
Members of the clergy are often referred to as men of the cloth.
Rag
Used informally to refer to clothing or textiles.
I need to sort through these old rags and donate some.
Cloth
A material formed by weaving or knitting fibers together.
She chose a soft cloth for the baby's blanket.
Rag
Often associated with tasks requiring absorbency.
He wiped the oil spill with a rag.
Cloth
Used specifically for making clothes.
He bought cloth for a new suit.
Rag
Symbolizes something of little to no value.
They considered the painting a worthless rag before its true value was discovered.
Cloth
Can denote a particular type of fabric with distinct characteristics.
The dress was made of silk cloth.
Rag
A small piece of old, worn-out cloth used for cleaning.
She used a rag to polish the silver.
Cloth
Refers to materials used in upholstery and home decor.
They selected a durable cloth for the sofa.
Rag
Can imply a state of disrepair or low quality.
His clothes were nothing but rags.
Cloth
Woven or felted fabric made from wool, cotton, or a similar fibre
A cloth bag
A broad piece of pleated cloth
Rag
A piece of old cloth, especially one torn from a larger piece, used typically for cleaning things
A piece of rag
He wiped his hands on an oily rag
Cloth
The clergy; the clerical profession
Has he given up all ideas of the cloth?
Rag
A newspaper, typically one regarded as being of low quality
The local rag
Cloth
Fabric or material formed by weaving, knitting, pressing, or felting natural or synthetic fibers.
Rag
A herd of colts
A rag of colts roamed the moorland
Cloth
A piece of fabric or material used for a specific purpose, as a tablecloth.
Rag
A programme of stunts, parades, and other entertainments organized by students to raise money for charity
Rag week
Cloth
Canvas.
Rag
A large coarse roofing slate.
Cloth
A sail.
Rag
A hard, coarse sedimentary rock that can be broken into thick slabs.
Cloth
The characteristic attire of a profession, especially that of the clergy.
Rag
A ragtime composition or tune.
Cloth
The clergy
A man of the cloth.
Rag
Variant of raga
Cloth
A fabric, usually made of woven, knitted, or felted fibres or filaments, such as used in dressing, decorating, cleaning or other practical use.
Rag
Give a decorative effect to (a painted surface) by applying paint, typically of a different colour, with a rag
The background walls have been stippled above the dado rail and ragged below
Cloth
Specifically, a tablecloth, especially as spread before a meal or removed afterwards.
Rag
Make fun of (someone) in a boisterous manner
He ragged me about not smoking or drinking
Despite the way I sometimes rag her, she is my sister
Cloth
(countable) A piece of cloth used for a particular purpose.
Rag
Rebuke severely
I ragged a restaurant last week for mangling Key lime pie
Cloth
(metaphoric) Substance or essence; the whole of something complex.
Rag
Keep possession of (the puck) by skilful stick-handling and avoidance of opponents, so as to waste time
Players ragged the puck in mid-ice to kill off penalties
Cloth
(metaphoric) Appearance; seeming.
Rag
A scrap of cloth.
Cloth
A form of attire that represents a particular profession or status.
Rag
A piece of cloth used for cleaning, washing, or dusting.
Cloth
(in idioms) Priesthood, clergy.
He is a respected man of the cloth.
Rag
Rags Threadbare or tattered clothing.
Cloth
A fabric made of fibrous material (or sometimes of wire, as in wire cloth); commonly, a woven fabric of cotton, woolen, or linen, adapted to be made into garments; specifically, woolen fabrics, as distinguished from all others.
Rag
Cloth converted to pulp for making paper.
Cloth
The dress; raiment. [Obs.] See Clothes.
I'll ne'er distust my God for cloth and bread.
Rag
A scrap; a fragment.
Cloth
The distinctive dress of any profession, especially of the clergy; hence, the clerical profession.
Appeals were made to the priesthood. Would they tamely permit so gross an insult to be offered to their cloth?
The cloth, the clergy, are constituted for administering and for giving the best possible effect to . . . every axiom.
Rag
(Slang) A newspaper, especially one specializing in sensationalism or gossip.
Cloth
Artifact made by weaving or felting or knitting or crocheting natural or synthetic fibers;
The fabric in the curtains was light and semitraqnsparent
Woven cloth originated in Mesopotamia around 5000 BC
She measured off enough material for a dress
Rag
The stringy central portion and membranous walls of a citrus fruit.
Rag
A practical joke; a prank.
Rag
A roofing slate with one rough surface.
Rag
Chiefly British A coarsely textured rock.
Rag
A piece written in ragtime.
Rag
To criticize or scold (someone).
Rag
To criticize or complain about (something).
Rag
To tease or taunt (someone).
Rag
Chiefly British To play a joke on.
Rag
(Sports) In ice hockey, to maintain possession of (the puck) by outmaneuvering opposing players, especially so as to kill a penalty.
Rag
To compose or play (a piece) in ragtime.
Rag
(in the plural) Tattered clothes.
Rag
A piece of old cloth, especially one used for cleaning, patching, etc.; a tattered piece of cloth; a shred or tatter.
Rag
A shabby, beggarly fellow; a ragamuffin.
Rag
A ragged edge in metalworking.
Rag
A sail, or any piece of canvas.
Rag
Sanitary napkins, pads, or other materials used to absorb menstrual discharge.
Rag
A newspaper or magazine, especially one whose journalism is considered to be of poor quality.
Fish wrap
Rag
(poker) A poor, low-ranking kicker.
I have ace-four on my hand. In other words, I have ace-rag.
Rag
A curtain of various kinds.
Rag
(dated) A person suffering from exhaustion or lack of energy.
Rag
A coarse kind of rock, somewhat cellular in texture; ragstone.
Rag
(dated) A prank or practical joke.
Rag
A society run by university students for the purpose of charitable fundraising.
Rag
An informal dance party featuring music played by African-American string bands.
Rag
A ragtime song, dance or piece of music.
Rag
(transitive) To decorate (a wall, etc.) by applying paint with a rag.
Rag
(intransitive) To become tattered.
Rag
To break (ore) into lumps for sorting.
Rag
To cut or dress roughly, as a grindstone.
Rag
To scold or tell off; to torment; to banter.
Rag
To drive a car or another vehicle in a hard, fast or unsympathetic manner.
Rag
To tease or torment, especially at a university; to bully, to haze.
Rag
To play or compose (a piece, melody, etc.) in syncopated time.
Rag
To dance to ragtime music.
Rag
To add syncopation (to a tune) and thereby make it appropriate for a ragtime song.
Rag
To scold or rail at; to rate; to tease; to torment; to banter.
Rag
To become tattered.
Rag
To break (ore) into lumps for sorting.
Rag
To cut or dress roughly, as a grindstone.
Rag
To play or compose (a piece, melody, etc.) in syncopated time.
Rag
To dance to ragtime music, esp. in some manner considered indecorous.
Rag
A piece of cloth torn off; a tattered piece of cloth; a shred; a tatter; a fragment.
Cowls, hoods, and habits, with their wearers, tossed,And fluttered into rags.
Not having otherwise any rag of legality to cover the shame of their cruelty.
Rag
Hence, mean or tattered attire; worn-out dress.
And virtue, though in rags, will keep me warm.
Rag
A shabby, beggarly fellow; a ragamuffin.
The other zealous rag is the compositor.
Upon the proclamation, they all came in, both tag and rag.
Rag
A coarse kind of rock, somewhat cellular in texture.
Rag
A ragged edge.
Rag
A sail, or any piece of canvas.
Our ship was a clipper with every rag set.
Rag
A small piece of cloth or paper
Rag
A week at British universities during which side-shows and processions of floats are organized to raise money for charities
Rag
Music with a syncopated melody (usually for the piano)
Rag
Newspaper with half-size pages
Rag
A boisterous practical joke (especially by college students)
Rag
Treat cruelly;
The children tormented the stuttering teacher
Rag
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
Rag
Play in ragtime;
Rag that old tune
Rag
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
Rag
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
Rag
Break into lumps before sorting;
Rag ore
Common Curiosities
Is cloth more expensive than rags?
Generally, cloth is more expensive than rags due to the materials and labor involved in its production.
What is cloth used for?
Cloth is primarily used for making garments, home furnishings, and various decorative purposes.
How do you choose a good cloth for specific uses?
Choosing a good cloth depends on the intended use, desired texture, durability, and aesthetic qualities.
What's the difference in durability between cloth and rags?
Cloth's durability varies widely based on its composition and weave, whereas rags, often made from already used cloth, may be less durable but are chosen for tasks that require less longevity.
Do rags have any aesthetic value?
Typically, rags are not chosen for their aesthetic value but for their practical utility.
How are rags made?
Rags are made by repurposing old or discarded cloth, often by cutting or tearing it into smaller pieces.
How are cloth and rags related to sustainability?
Both can be part of sustainable practices; cloth can be recycled or repurposed into rags, and rags can be reused, reducing waste.
Is it better to use cloth or rags for cleaning?
The choice between cloth and rags for cleaning depends on the specific task, required absorbency, and whether the material will be reused.
Can any cloth become a rag?
Yes, any cloth can become a rag once it's deemed unsuitable for its original purpose and repurposed for cleaning or wiping.
How has the use of cloth and rags evolved over time?
Historically, both cloth and rags have been essential in daily life, with rags serving as an economical way to manage cleaning and cloth being central to clothing and household items.
Can cloth be recycled?
Yes, cloth can be recycled, often being repurposed into rags or used in textile recycling processes.
Are all rags made from cloth?
Yes, by definition, rags are made from pieces of old or discarded cloth.
What types of cloth are there?
There are many types of cloth, including cotton, linen, silk, wool, and synthetic fabrics, each with unique properties.
Can rags be reused?
Rags can often be washed and reused multiple times, especially if they are made from durable materials.
What innovations have affected the production of cloth?
Advancements in textile technology, such as automated weaving and synthetic fiber development, have significantly impacted cloth production, making it more efficient and diverse.
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Written by
Tayyaba RehmanTayyaba Rehman is a distinguished writer, currently serving as a primary contributor to askdifference.com. As a researcher in semantics and etymology, Tayyaba's passion for the complexity of languages and their distinctions has found a perfect home on the platform. Tayyaba delves into the intricacies of language, distinguishing between commonly confused words and phrases, thereby providing clarity for readers worldwide.
Co-written by
Maham Liaqat
