English adjective: stray | |||
1. | stray not close together in time | ||
Samples | Isolated instances of rebellion. A few stray crumbs. | ||
Synonyms | isolated | ||
Similar | sporadic | ||
Antonyms | continual | ||
2. | stray (of an animal) having no home or having wandered away from home | ||
Samples | A stray calf. A stray dog. | ||
Similar | lost | ||
Antonyms | found | ||
English noun: stray | |||
1. | stray (animal) an animal that has strayed (especially a domestic animal) | ||
Broader (hypernym) | domestic animal, domesticated animal | ||
English verb: stray | |||
1. | stray (motion) move about aimlessly or without any destination, often in search of food or employment | ||
Samples | The gypsies roamed the woods. Roving vagabonds. The wandering Jew. The cattle roam across the prairie. The laborers drift from one town to the next. They rolled from town to town. | ||
Synonyms | cast, drift, ramble, range, roam, roll, rove, swan, tramp, vagabond, wander | ||
Pattern of use | Somebody ----s. Something is ----ing PP. Somebody ----s something. Somebody ----s PP | ||
Broader (hypernym) | go, locomote, move, travel | ||
Narrower (hyponym) | gad, gallivant, jazz around, maunder | ||
Verb group | drift, err, stray, wander | ||
2. | stray (motion) wander from a direct course or at random | ||
Samples | The child strayed from the path and her parents lost sight of her. Don't drift from the set course. | ||
Synonyms | drift, err | ||
Pattern of use | Somebody ----s. Somebody ----s PP | ||
Broader (hypernym) | go, locomote, move, travel | ||
Verb group | cast, drift, ramble, range, roam, roll, rove, stray, swan, tramp, vagabond, wander | ||
3. | stray (communication) lose clarity or turn aside especially from the main subject of attention or course of argument in writing, thinking, or speaking | ||
Samples | She always digresses when telling a story. Her mind wanders. Don't digress when you give a lecture. | ||
Synonyms | digress, divagate, wander | ||
Pattern of use | Somebody ----s. Somebody ----s PP | ||
Broader (hypernym) | tell | ||