Transcription
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- US Pronunciation
- US IPA
- UK Pronunciation
- UK IPA
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- [strey]
- /streɪ/
- /streɪ/
-
- US Pronunciation
- US IPA
-
- [strey]
- /streɪ/
Definitions of stray word
- verb without object stray to deviate from the direct course, leave the proper place, or go beyond the proper limits, especially without a fixed course or purpose; ramble: to stray from the main road. 1
- verb without object stray to wander; roam: The new puppy strayed from room to room. 1
- verb without object stray to go astray; deviate, as from a moral, religious, or philosophical course: to stray from the teachings of the church. 1
- verb without object stray to digress or become distracted. 1
- noun stray a domestic animal found wandering at large or without an owner. 1
- noun stray any homeless or friendless person or animal. 1
Information block about the term
Origin of stray
First appearance:
before 1250 One of the 11% oldest English words
1250-1300; (v.) Middle English strayen, aphetic variant of astraien, estraien < Middle French estraier < Vulgar Latin *extrāvagāre to wander out of bounds (see extravagant); (noun) Middle English, in part derivative of the v., in part < Anglo-French stray, Middle French estrai, derivative of estraier
Historical Comparancy
Parts of speech for Stray
noun
adjective
verb
adverb
pronoun
preposition
conjunction
determiner
exclamation
stray popularity
A common word. It’s meaning is known to most children of preschool age. About 96% of English native speakers know the meaning and use the word.
Most Europeans know this English word. The frequency of it’s usage is somewhere between "mom" and "screwdriver".
stray usage trend in Literature
This diagram is provided by Google Ngram ViewerSynonyms for stray
verb stray
- aberrated — simple past tense and past participle of aberrate.
- apostatize — to forsake or abandon one's belief, faith, or allegiance
- blathering — foolish, voluble talk: His speech was full of the most amazing blather.
- bollix — to make a muddle of; bungle; botch
- boo-boo — A boo-boo is a silly mistake or blunder.
adj stray
- aimless — A person or activity that is aimless has no clear purpose or plan.
- directionless — the act or an instance of directing.
- down and out — downward; going or directed downward: the down escalator.
- driftless — a driving movement or force; impulse; impetus; pressure.
- few and far between — not many but more than one: Few artists live luxuriously.
noun stray
- animal — An animal is a living creature such as a dog, lion, or rabbit, rather than a bird, fish, insect, or human being.
- beachcomber — A beachcomber is someone who spends their time wandering along beaches looking for things they can use.
- bolter — an outsider in a contest or race
- bowwow — the bark of a dog, or a sound in imitation of it
- bowwows — the bark of a dog.
adjective stray
- designless — without a design, unplanned
- errable — Liable to error; fallible.
- errant — Erring or straying from the proper course or standards.
- erratic — Not even or regular in pattern or movement; unpredictable.
- itinerate — to go from place to place, especially in a regular circuit, as a preacher or judge.
Antonyms for stray
noun stray
- appropriator — suitable or fitting for a particular purpose, person, occasion, etc.: an appropriate example; an appropriate dress.
- bombsight — a mechanical or electronic device in an aircraft for aiming bombs
- discoverer — a person who discovers.
- finder — a person or thing that finds.
- homing device — a mechanism incorporated into a guided missile, airplane, etc., that aims it toward its objective.
Top questions with stray
- how to get rid of stray cats?
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