stray
gb/stɹˈeɪ/ us/stɹˈeɪ/
A2
English
~ 7200
kóbor állat, kóbor, elkóborol, letér, eltér, elkalandozik, kósza, eltévedt, félrelép, megcsal, eltévedt golyó
NOUN
B1
1
kóbor állat
B1
Usage pattern:
to take in [a stray]
The shelter takes in dozens of strays every month.
A menhely havonta több tucat kóbor állatot fogad be.
We found a stray shivering behind the supermarket.
Egy reszkető kóbor állatot találtunk a szupermarket mögött.
He adopted a stray and gave it a loving home.
Children were warned not to approach strays in the area.
Learner examples
They found a stray outside their house.
Kóbor állatot találtak a házuk előtt.
The woman feeds the strays on her street.
Az asszony eteti az utcájában élő kóbor állatokat.
The animal shelter cares for many strays.
He wants to take the stray to a vet.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes say *"street dog"* or *"free dog"* when they mean a pet with no owner. In English, *stray* is the usual noun for a homeless cat or dog.
Meaning
a homeless domestic animal
Collocations
a stray dog
|a stray cat
|pick up strays
|take in strays
|feed a stray
Synonyms
homeless animal (More explicit and descriptive; sounds slightly more formal and is less idiomatic.)
|
feral (Often used for wild or semi-wild animals; can suggest the animal is not used to humans.)
Antonyms
pet (A pet is an animal that has an owner and a home, which is the opposite of a stray.)
|
owned animal (Explicitly highlights that the animal belongs to someone.)
Themes
animals
|daily life
|society
Definition
A cat, dog, or other pet that lives on the street and does not have an owner.
A domestic animal, especially a cat or dog, that has no home or owner.
A2
2
kóbor
B1
Usage pattern:
[stray] [animal]
Animal control has been catching stray dogs in the neighborhood.
Az állatbefogók kóbor kutyákat fognak be a környéken.
She volunteers at a clinic that treats stray cats.
Olyan állatorvosi rendelőben önkénteskedik, ahol kóbor macskákat kezelnek.
The city started a program to reduce the number of stray animals.
We heard a soft cry from a stray kitten under the car.
Learner examples
There are many stray dogs in this town.
Sok kóbor kutya van ebben a városban.
We saw a small stray cat in the park.
Láttunk egy kis kóbor macskát a parkban.
The city wants to help stray animals.
He took a stray dog home.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes say *"lost dog"* when they mean a dog that has always lived on the street. A *lost dog* normally has an owner, but a *stray dog* does not have an owner.
Meaning
having no home or owner
Collocations
stray dogs
|stray cats
|stray animals
|stray population
|stray dog problem
Synonyms
homeless (General word for people or animals without a home; *stray* is more specific to animals.)
|
unowned (More technical-sounding; used less often in everyday speech.)
Antonyms
owned (Highlights that the animal belongs to someone, the opposite of a stray animal.)
|
domesticated (Suggests care and ownership, contrasted with animals living on the street.)
Themes
animals
|daily life
|society
Definition
Describes a cat, dog, or other pet that lives on the street and does not belong to anyone.
Describes an animal, especially a cat or dog, that has no home or owner.
VERB
B1
3
Usage pattern:
to stray from [a place/route/group]
The child strayed from his parents in the crowd.
A gyerek elkóborolt a szüleitől a tömegben.
Hikers are advised not to stray from the marked trail.
A túrázóknak azt tanácsolják, hogy ne térjenek le a jelzett ösvényről.
One of the sheep had strayed into a neighboring field.
Make sure the dog doesn’t stray into the road.
Learner examples
The boy strayed from his mother in the store.
A fiú elkóborolt az anyjától a boltban.
Do not stray from the path in the forest.
Ne térj le az ösvényről az erdőben.
The cow strayed into the street.
Our dog often strays when we go for a walk.
Common mistake:
Learners may use *"go"* instead of *stray*, but *stray* adds the idea that the movement is not planned or not safe. Saying *"The child went from his parents"* is incorrect; it should be *"The child strayed from his parents"* or *"The child walked away from his parents."*
Meaning
move away from a place or path
Collocations
stray from the path
|stray into the road
|stray too far
|stray off course
|stray from the group
Synonyms
wander (Suggests slow, relaxed movement without a clear direction; not always unintended.)
|
drift (Often suggests slow movement without control, sometimes by wind or water.)
Antonyms
stay (Means to remain in the same place instead of moving away.)
|
keep to (As in *keep to the path*; means to remain on a set route.)
Themes
movement
|travel
|daily life
|transportation
Definition
To go away from the place, path, or group where you should stay, usually by accident.
To move away from the correct place, route, or group, often without intending to, especially when walking or traveling.
VERB
B2
4
eltér
B1
elkalandozik
B2
Usage pattern:
to stray from [the topic/point/plan]
Let’s not stray from the main topic of this meeting.
Ne térjünk el a megbeszélés fő témájától.
His comments often stray from the point and confuse the audience.
A megjegyzései gyakran eltérnek a tárgytól, és összezavarják a hallgatóságot.
The project has strayed from its original goals.
She tried not to stray from her prepared notes.
Learner examples
Please do not stray from the topic in class.
Kérlek, ne térj el a témától az órán.
The writer sometimes strays from the main story.
Az író néha eltér a fő történetszáltól.
Our plan strayed from the original idea.
He often strays from the point when he speaks.
Common mistake:
Learners may confuse *stray from the topic* with *change the topic*. *Stray from the topic* suggests moving away without control or by mistake, while *change the topic* is a clear, intentional action.
Meaning
move away from a subject or plan
Collocations
stray from the topic
|stray from the point
|stray from the main issue
|stray from the script
|stray from the plan
Synonyms
digress (More formal; mainly used for talking or writing that moves away from the main subject.)
|
deviate (More formal and often used about rules or plans.)
Antonyms
stick to (As in *stick to the topic*; means to continue with the same subject or plan.)
|
stay on (As in *stay on topic*; means to remain focused on the main subject.)
Themes
communication
|thinking
|work
|education
Definition
To move away from the main idea or plan and start talking, thinking, or acting in a different direction.
To stop focusing on the main subject, idea, or plan and begin dealing with something different, often without intending to.
B2
5
Usage pattern:
[stray] [object/shot/thought/hair]
A stray bullet came through the window.
Egy eltévedt golyó repült be az ablakon.
She brushed a stray hair from her face.
Lesöpört egy kósza hajszálat az arcáról.
He tried to ignore the stray thoughts that distracted him from work.
One stray remark started a huge argument.
Learner examples
A stray bullet hit the wall.
Egy eltévedt golyó a falba csapódott.
She saw a stray hair on his jacket.
Megpillantott egy kósza hajszálat a férfi kabátján.
He wrote down a stray thought in his notebook.
One stray word can hurt someone.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes think *stray* here only means "small". It actually means the thing is not where it should be, or it happened by accident, like a bullet hitting the wrong place or a hair out of place.
Meaning
not in the correct place; accidental
Collocations
stray bullet
|stray hair
|stray thought
|stray remark
|stray light
Synonyms
random (Suggests lack of pattern or purpose; *stray* adds the idea of being out of place or accidental.)
|
accidental (Focuses on not being planned; *stray* also suggests separation from where it should be.)
Antonyms
intentional (Describes something done on purpose, not by accident.)
|
aimed (Opposes *stray* in contexts like bullets or shots that hit the wrong target.)
Themes
daily life
|safety
|thoughts
|core_vocabulary
|daily_life
Definition
Describes a thing that is in the wrong place or happens by accident, not on purpose.
Describes something that is not where it should be or happens by accident, not as part of a planned action.
VERB
C1
6
Usage pattern:
to stray from [a partner/marriage]
He admitted that he had strayed during their marriage.
Beismerte, hogy félrelépett a házasságuk alatt.
She said she would never stray from her husband.
Azt mondta, hogy soha nem csalná meg a férjét.
After twenty years together, neither of them has ever strayed.
He was tempted to stray but decided to end the relationship instead.
Learner examples
He strayed from his wife and now they have problems.
Megcsalta a feleségét, és most problémáik vannak.
She says she will not stray from her partner.
Azt mondja, nem fogja megcsalni a partnerét.
They have been married for many years and have never strayed.
He was afraid he might stray if he stayed in that situation.
Common mistake:
Learners may think *stray* here means only "leave". It specifically suggests romantic or sexual unfaithfulness, not just physically going away.
Meaning
be romantically unfaithful
Collocations
stray from the marriage
|stray outside the relationship
|tempted to stray
|never strayed
Synonyms
cheat (More direct and informal; clearly states that someone is being unfaithful.)
|
be unfaithful (More formal and explicit; focuses on breaking trust in a relationship.)
Antonyms
stay faithful (Means to remain loyal to one partner and not be romantic with others.)
|
remain loyal (Emphasizes continued emotional and sexual loyalty to a partner.)
Themes
relationships
|emotions
|society
Definition
To cheat on your husband, wife, or partner by being romantic or sexual with another person.
To have romantic or sexual contact with someone who is not your regular partner or spouse, especially when this is seen as unfaithful.
NOUN
B2
7
Usage pattern:
a stray [bullet/shot]
The boy was injured by a stray during the fight.
A fiú egy eltévedt golyótól sérült meg az összecsapás során.
A stray bullet broke the restaurant window.
Egy eltévedt golyó betörte az étterem ablakát.
Two people were killed by strays in the crossfire.
Police said the victim was hit by a stray and was not involved in the conflict.
Learner examples
She was hit by a stray during the shooting.
Egy eltévedt golyó találta el a lövöldözés közben.
The news said a stray bullet killed a man.
A hírek szerint egy eltévedt golyó megölt egy férfit.
A stray went through the car window.
He was not a target; he died from a stray.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes think *stray* as a noun here still means an animal. In news reports, *a stray* can also mean a stray bullet or shot, especially when the context is about violence or shooting.
Meaning
an accidentally misdirected projectile
Collocations
a stray bullet
|hit by a stray
|killed by a stray bullet
Synonyms
misdirected shot (More technical description; less common in everyday speech.)
Antonyms
aimed shot (A shot that goes where it is intended, the opposite of a stray shot.)
Themes
safety
|crime
|news
|core_vocabulary
Definition
A bullet or similar thing that goes to the wrong place by accident and hits something or someone that was not the target.
A bullet or similar projectile that accidentally goes in the wrong direction and hits something that was not the intended target.
Grammar
Dictionary form
stray
IPA
GB/stɹˈeɪ/
US/stɹˈeɪ/
Syllables & stress
stray (1 syllable)
Stress on 1st syllable (stray)
Word forms
Adjective
- Base: stray
Noun
- Base: stray
- Plural: strays
Verb
- Base: stray
- 3rd Person Singular: strays
- Present Participle: straying
- Past: strayed
Word family
Forms
strays
noun
straying
verb
strayed
verb
Related words
astray
adverb B2
Expressions
stray from the path
1/stɹˈeɪ fɹˈʌm ðə pˈæθ/
fixed phrase
move away from a route or way
To go away from the way you should follow, either a real road or a correct way of behaving.
Examples
- Hikers were warned not to stray from the path in the mountains.
- In his teens he briefly strayed from the path, but later turned his life around.
stray from the point
1/stɹˈeɪ fɹˈʌm ðə pˈɔɪnt/
fixed phrase
move away from main subject
To stop talking about the main idea and start talking about something different.
Examples
- You’re straying from the point; let’s focus on the budget.
- The speaker often strays from the point and loses the audience.
stray off course
1/stɹˈeɪ ˈɔf kˈɔɹs/
fixed phrase
leave the planned direction or route
To move away from the direction or plan you should follow, especially when traveling or working on a goal.
Examples
- The plane strayed off course due to strong winds.
- Halfway through the project, the team began to stray off course.
stray too far
1/stɹˈeɪ tˈu fˈɑɹ/
fixed phrase
go beyond a safe or proper limit
To go too far away from a place, rule, or idea that is safe or correct.
Examples
- Don’t stray too far from the house, kids.
- Some of his jokes stray too far and make people uncomfortable.