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Stray vs Lose - What's the difference?

stray | lose |

In transitive terms the difference between stray and lose

is that stray is to cause to stray while lose is to cause (somebody) to be unable to follow or trace one any longer.

As nouns the difference between stray and lose

is that stray is any domestic animal that has an enclosure, or its proper place and company, and wanders at large, or is lost; an estray while lose is fame, renown; praise.

As verbs the difference between stray and lose

is that stray is to wander, as from a direct course; to deviate, or go out of the way while lose is to cause (something) to cease to be in one's possession or capability due to unfortunate or unknown circumstances, events or reasons.

As an adjective stray

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

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

    * * *

    lose

    English

    Etymology 1

    From (etyl) losen, from (etyl) .

    Verb

  • To cause (something) to cease to be in one's possession or capability due to unfortunate or unknown circumstances, events or reasons.
  • * {{quote-book, year=1963, author=(Margery Allingham), title=(The China Governess)
  • , chapter=19 citation , passage=Meanwhile Nanny Broome was recovering from her initial panic and seemed anxious to make up for any kudos she might have lost , by exerting her personality to the utmost. She took the policeman's helmet and placed it on a chair, and unfolded his tunic to shake it and fold it up again for him.}}
  • * {{quote-news, year=2011, date=April 15, author=Saj Chowdhury, work=BBC Sport
  • , title= Norwich 2-1 Nott'm Forest , passage=Forest, who lost striker Kris Boyd to injury seconds before half-time, produced little after the break, with a Tyson sliced shot from 12 yards their only opportunity of note.}}
  • To wander from; to miss, so as not to be able to find; to go astray from.
  • I lost my way in the forest.
  • * Shakespeare
  • He hath lost his fellows.
  • To have (an organ) removed from one's body, especially by accident.
  • To fail to win (a game, competition, trial, etc).
  • * Dryden
  • I fought the battle bravely which I lost , / And lost it but to Macedonians.
  • To shed (weight).
  • To experience the death of (someone to whom one has an attachment, such as a relative or friend).
  • To be unable to follow or trace (somebody or something) any longer.
  • To cause (somebody) to be unable to follow or trace one any longer.
  • (informal) To shed, remove, discard, or eliminate.
  • Of a clock, to run slower than expected.
  • To cause (someone) the loss of something; to deprive of.
  • * Baxter
  • O false heart! thou hadst almost betrayed me to eternal flames, and lost me this glory.
  • * 2002 , , The Great Nation , Penguin 2003, p. 556:
  • This lost Catholicism any semblance of a claim to special status, and also highlighted the gains which other religious formations had derived from the Revolution.
  • To fail to catch with the mind or senses; to miss.
  • I lost a part of what he said.
  • (archaic) To cause to part with; to deprive of.
  • * Sir W. Temple
  • How should you go about to lose him a wife he loves with so much passion?
    Usage notes
    * Do not confuse lose with loose .
    Synonyms
    * (sense, cause to cease to be in one's possession) leave behind, mislay * * drop, shed * * * ditch, drop, dump, get rid of, jettison * * (last)
    Antonyms
    * (sense, cause to cease to be in one's possession) come across, discover, find, gain, acquire, procure, get, pick up, snag * win * gain, put on * * find * pick up * (fail to be the winner) come first, win
    Derived terms
    * lose heart * lose it * lose one's cool * lose one's head * lose one's life * lose one's lunch * lose one's marbles * lose one's mind * lose one's patience * lose one's rag * lose one's temper * lose one's way * lose out * lose patience * lose time * no love lost

    Etymology 2

    From (etyl) (los), (loos), from (etyl) .

    Noun

  • (obsolete) Fame, renown; praise.
  • * 1596 , (Edmund Spenser), The Faerie Queene , VI.12:
  • That much he feared least reprochfull blame / With foule dishonour him mote blot therefore; / Besides the losse of so much loos and fame […].