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Discard vs Stray - What's the difference?

discard | stray |

In lang=en terms the difference between discard and stray

is that discard is to throw away, to reject while stray is to cause to stray.

As verbs the difference between discard and stray

is that discard is to throw away, to reject while stray is to wander, as from a direct course; to deviate, or go out of the way.

As nouns the difference between discard and stray

is that discard is anything discarded while stray is any domestic animal that has an enclosure, or its proper place and company, and wanders at large, or is lost; an estray.

As an adjective stray is

having gone astray; strayed; wandering; as, a stray horse or sheep.

discard

English

Verb

(en verb)
  • to throw away, to reject.
  • * I. Taylor
  • A man discards the follies of boyhood.
  • (card games) To make a discard; to throw out a card.
  • To dismiss from employment, confidence, or favour; to discharge.
  • * Jonathan Swift
  • They blame the favourites, and think it nothing extraordinary that the queen should resolve to discard them.

    Synonyms

    * cast away * dismiss * dispose * eliminate * get rid of * throw away * See also

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • Anything discarded.
  • A discarded playing card in a card game.
  • Anagrams

    * English heteronyms

    stray

    English

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • Any domestic animal that has an enclosure, or its proper place and company, and wanders at large, or is lost; an estray.
  • (figuratively) One who is lost, either literally or metaphorically.
  • The act of wandering or going astray.
  • (historical) An area of common land or place administered for the use of general domestic animals, i.e. "the stray"
  • Verb

    (en verb)
  • To wander, as from a direct course; to deviate, or go out of the way.
  • * Denham
  • Thames among the wanton valleys strays .
  • To wander from company, or from the proper limits; to rove at large; to roam; to go astray.
  • (figurative) To wander from the path of duty or rectitude; to err.
  • * November 2 2014 , Daniel Taylor, " Sergio Agüero strike wins derby for Manchester City against 10-man United," guardian.co.uk
  • It was a derby that left Manchester United a long way back in Manchester City’s wing-mirrors and, in the worst moments, straying dangerously close to being their own worst enemy.
  • To cause to stray.
  • * 1591 , , V. i. 51:
  • Hath not else his eye / Strayed his affection in unlawful love,

    Synonyms

    * deviate

    Adjective

    (-)
  • Having gone astray; strayed; wandering; as, a stray horse or sheep.
  • In the wrong place; misplaced.
  • a stray comma

    Derived terms

    * stray line * stray mark

    References

    Anagrams

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