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stray
[ strey ]
/ streɪ /
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This shows grade level based on the word's complexity.
verb (used without object)
noun
adjective
QUIZ
THINGAMABOB OR THINGUMMY: CAN YOU DISTINGUISH BETWEEN THE US AND UK TERMS IN THIS QUIZ?
Do you know the difference between everyday US and UK terminology? Test yourself with this quiz on words that differ across the Atlantic.
Question 1 of 7
In the UK, COTTON CANDY is more commonly known as…
Origin of stray
First recorded in 1300–50; Middle English verb straien, strayen, from Old French estraier, from unrecorded Vulgar Latin extrāvagāre “to wander out of bounds”; see origin at extravagant
OTHER WORDS FROM stray
stray·er, nounun·stray·ing, adjectiveWords nearby stray
strawweight, straw wine, strawworm, strawy, straw yellow, stray, Strayhorn, strays, strayve, streak, streaking
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
How to use stray in a sentence
British Dictionary definitions for stray
stray
/ (streɪ) /
verb (intr)
noun
adjective
scattered, random, or haphazarda stray bullet grazed his thigh
Derived forms of stray
strayer, nounWord Origin for stray
C14: from Old French estraier, from Vulgar Latin estragāre (unattested), from Latin extrā- outside + vagāri to roam; see astray, extravagant, stravaig
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
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