Definition of "stray"

stray¹

/stɹeɪ/

noun
plural strays
1. Any domestic animal that has no enclosure nor proper place and company, but that instead wanders at large or is lost; an estray.
2. One who is lost, literally or figuratively.
3. An act of wandering off or going astray.
4. (historical) An area of common land for use by domestic animals generally.
5. (radio) An instance of atmospheric interference.
  Quotations
  This invention relates broadly to radio communication, but more particularly to a radio receiving system used for the reception of high frequency current signals wherever they are subject to interference from "static" or strays of an untuned or aperiodic character.
  1926, Popular Radio, volume 9, page 191
  Because of their shortness, such signals are usually easy to distinguish from the bomb returns but, when such a stray is recorded just before the bomb return, too close to be distinguished by ear […]
  1942, John C. Mathisson, Radio Acoustic Ranging, page 652
  Electromagnetic interference EMI, radio interference RI, television interference TVI, and radio frequency interference RFI, can all be described as a confusion to received radio signals due to strays and undesirable signals.
  1976, IEEE Power Engineering Society, Nuclear Power: Health, Safety, Waste Disposal, page 20
6. Ellipsis of stray bullet.
  Quotations
  Hit by a stray, but I pray that there's a hood in heaven
  1993, “Just Another Day”, in Black Reign, performed by Queen Latifah

stray²

/stɹeɪ/

verb
third-person singular simple present strays, present participle straying, simple past and past participle strayed
1. (intransitive) To wander, as from a direct course; to deviate, or go out of the way.
  Quotations
  Thames among the wanton valleys strays.
  1642, John Denham, Cooper's Hill
2. (intransitive) To wander from company or outside proper limits; to rove or roam at large; to go astray.
3. (intransitive) To wander from the path of duty or rectitude; to err.
  Quotations
  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.
  November 2 2014, Daniel Taylor, "Sergio Agüero strike wins derby for Manchester City against 10-man United," guardian.co.uk
4. (transitive) To cause to stray; lead astray.
  Quotations
  Hath not else his eye / Strayed his affection in unlawful love,
  c. 1594 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Comedie of Errors”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, [Act V, scene i], line 51
  To ease myself I was compelled to leave my basket behind me, trusting to return and find it, if I should ever reach safety and discover on what pathless hill I had been strayed.
  1899, John Buchan, No Man's Land

stray³

/stɹeɪ/

adjective
not comparable
1. Having gone astray; strayed; wandering
  Quotations
  The organisation fills many gaps left by the state, operating a dizzying array of services, including homes for victims of domestic violence, food banks and a shelter for stray animals.
  2017 April 6, Samira Shackle, “On the frontline with Karachi’s ambulance drivers”, in the Guardian‎
2. In the wrong place; misplaced.