streɪ v., n., & adj. --v.intr. 1
wander from the right place;
become separated from one's companions
etc.; go
astray. 2
deviate morally. 3 (as strayed adj.)
that has gone astray. --n. 1 a
person or
thing that has strayed,
esp. a
domestic animal. 2 (esp. in pl.)
electrical phenomena interfering
with radio reception. --adj. 1 strayed or
lost. 2
isolated; found or occurring occasionally (a stray
customer or
two;
hit by a stray bullet). 3
Physics wasted or
unwanted (eliminate stray
magnetic fields). øøstrayer n. [ME f. AF & OF estrayer (v.), AF strey (n. & adj.) f. OF estrai÷ (as ASTRAY)]