to wander away from the main group, or from the proper place or route

to wander or move about aimlessly

She happened to stray into the library one day

informaldated or humorous to deviate from the path of moral rectitude, esp to be unfaithful to one's spouse

said of an eye or hand: to move apparently casually in some direction

Her eye strayed towards the clock

a domestic animal wandering at large or lost

dated a lost or homeless person, esp a child

waifs and strays

(in pl)

said of a domestic animal: having strayed; wandering; lost

a stray dog

said of hair: having escaped from an arrangement

She tucked a stray lock behind her ear

occurring at random or sporadically

a few stray instances

said of an electric charge, etc: unwanted; causing interference

stray voltages