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📕 rednote ID(小红书号)：3881567312

Stray Meaning: Wander Away & Stray from Topic (2 meaning)

Meaning 1：wander away and get lost (stray)

stray 🔊

/streɪ/

vi.

to wander away and get lost, especially from a group or a familiar place.

Stray puppy lost at crossroads in suburban street

wander away and get lost 🔊

➕

/ˈwɒndər əˈweɪ ænd ɡet lɒst/

vi.

To leave a familiar place or group and become lost or separated.

📁 Category：Animal Protection 🔖 Level：Beginner

📘 Details & Usage

📖 Root Explanation

From Latin 'extravagari' (extra- outside + vagari to wander).

💡 Mnemonic

A stray dog strays from its owner. Think 'stray' = 'astray'.

📖 Example

During the hike, their dog got curious about a squirrel and strayed from the trail, so they spent an hour calling its name. 🔊 During the hike, their dog got curious about a squirrel and strayed from the trail, so they spent an hour calling its name.

🔗 Collocations

stray from the path – to leave the designated route

stray off course – to deviate from the intended direction

stray animals – animals without a home or owner

🔄 Synonyms

wander (vi.) – to move aimlessly without a fixed destination

roam (vi.) – to travel widely without a specific purpose

drift (vi.) – to move slowly without control

🚫 Antonyms

stay (vi.) – to remain in a place

follow (vt.) – to move along a path or behind someone

📖 Cultural Story

Derived from Old French 'estraier', meaning to wander, from Latin 'extravagari'. Historically used for lost livestock.

Meaning 2：stray from the topic (stray)

stray 🔊

/streɪ/

vi.

to move away from what is correct, normal, or intended, especially in thinking or speaking.

Student straying from topic distracted by bird

stray from the topic 🔊

➕

/streɪ frɒm ðə ˈtɒpɪk/

vi.

To move away from the main subject or correct line of thought in a discussion or argument.

📁 Category：School Education 🔖 Level：Intermediate

📘 Details & Usage

📖 Example

In his history presentation, he started talking about ancient Rome but then strayed into a long story about his favorite pizza place in Italy. 🔊 In his history presentation, he started talking about ancient Rome but then strayed into a long story about his favorite pizza place in Italy.

🔗 Collocations

stray from the point – to deviate from the main argument

stray off topic – to digress from the subject

stray into unrelated matters – to wander into irrelevant areas

🔄 Synonyms

digress (vi.) – to leave the main subject temporarily

deviate (vi.) – to depart from the established course or standard

wander (vi.) – to lose concentration or move away from the intended focus

🚫 Antonyms

focus (vi.) – to concentrate on a particular subject

stay on track (phrase) – to remain on the intended subject