Stray Definition

strā
strayed, straying, strays
verb
strayed, straying, strays
To move away from a group, deviate from a course, or escape from established limits.
Strayed away from the tour group to look at some sculptures.
American Heritage
To wander from a given place, limited area, direct course, etc., esp. aimlessly; roam; rove.
Webster's New World
To go wrong; be in error; deviate (from what is right)
Webster's New World
To move without a destination or purpose; wander.
Cows that strayed across the road toward the river.
American Heritage
To fail to concentrate; be inattentive or digress.
Webster's New World
Antonyms:
noun
A person or thing that strays; esp., a domestic animal wandering at large.
Webster's New World
Static interfering with radio reception.
Webster's New World

(figuratively) One who is lost, either literally or metaphorically.

Wiktionary

The act of wandering or going astray.

Wiktionary
adjective
Having strayed or wandered; lost.
Webster's New World
Scattered or separate.
A few stray crumbs.
American Heritage
Occurring alone or infrequently; isolated; incidental.
A few stray words.
Webster's New World

In the wrong place; misplaced.

A stray comma.
Wiktionary

Other Word Forms of Stray

Noun

Singular:
stray
Plural:
strays

Origin of Stray

  • Middle English straien from Old French estraier from estree highway from Latin strāta street

    From American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition

  • From Middle English, from Old French estraier (verb), and estrai (noun), from Vulgar Latin via strata, paved road.

    From Wiktionary

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