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REFERENCE

stray

v. · n. · adj.
US //ˈstɹeɪ// UK //stɹˈeɪ// stray
  1. 1 to wander away (v.)
    B2 Upper Intermediate

    to move away from a group or a path where you are supposed to be.

    to wander from a direct course, a group, or a designated area. Intransitive; often takes the preposition 'from'.

    Example

    The hikers were told not to stray from the marked trail in the forest.

    Example

    Several sheep managed to stray from the flock during the storm, forcing the farmer to search the hills until dusk.
  2. 2 to lose focus (v.)
    B2 Upper Intermediate

    to start thinking or talking about something different from the main subject.

    to deviate from a subject of discussion or a line of thought.

    Example

    The teacher asked the students not to stray from the topic of the essay.

    Example

    While the keynote speaker was engaging, he tended to stray into personal anecdotes that had little to do with the conference theme.
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  1. 3 homeless animal (n.)
    B2 Upper Intermediate

    a pet or domestic animal that is lost or has no home.

    a domestic animal that is wandering at large or is lost, lacking an owner or enclosure.

    Example

    They found a stray cat shivering under their car and took it to the shelter.

    Example

    The local animal rescue centre is currently overwhelmed with strays brought in after the summer holidays.
    • waif
    • foundling
  2. 4 casual insult (n.)
    C1 Advanced Slang Informal

    an insult or criticism directed at someone who was not the original target.

    a casual or offhand insult, often one that hits a person who was not the primary subject of a conflict.

    Example

    I was just sitting there minding my own business and I caught a stray.

    Example

    The comedian's rant was mostly about the government, but several celebrities caught strays during the performance.

    Usage

    Commonly used in the phrase 'to catch a stray'.
  3. 5 misplaced or alone (adj.)
    B2 Upper Intermediate

    found in the wrong place or separated from a group.

    occurring in isolation or found away from the proper or expected place.

    Example

    She brushed a few stray hairs away from her face before the photo.

    Example

    The researcher noted a few stray data points that did not fit the overall trend of the experiment.
Etymology 1

From Middle English stray, strey, from Anglo-Norman estray, stray, Old French estrai, from the verb (see below).

Etymology 2

From Middle English strayen, partly from Old French estraier, from Vulgar Latin via strata, and partly from Middle English strien, streyen, streyȝen (“to spread, scatter”), from Old English strēġan (“to strew”).

Etymology 3

From Middle English stray, from the noun (see above).

Idioms1 entry

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