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Stray vs Wandering - What's the difference?

stray | wandering |

As nouns the difference between stray and wandering

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 wandering is travelling with no preset route; roaming.

As verbs the difference between stray and wandering

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

As adjectives the difference between stray and wandering

is that stray is having gone astray; strayed; wandering; as, a stray horse or sheep while wandering is which wanders; travelling from place to place.

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"

    • Related terms

    * (l) * (l)

    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

    * * *

    wandering

    English

    Adjective

    (-)
  • Which wanders; travelling from place to place.
  • (medicine, of an organ) Abnormally capable of moving in certain directions.
    • a wandering''' kidney; a '''wandering liver

    Derived terms

    (terms derived from wandering) * wandering abscess * wandering albatross * wandering cell * wandering dune * wandering Jew * wandering kidney * wandering liver * wandering mouse * wandering pacemaker * wandering sequence * wandering set * wandering spider * wandering tattler

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • Travelling with no preset route; roaming.
  • Irregular turning of the eyes.
  • Aimless thought.
  • Straying from a desired path.
  • (chiefly, in the plural) Disordered speech or delirium.

    • Verb

    (head)