stray cat
7
1.3
- noun
- /streɪ kæt/
:
gato callejero
- The people who used to live there fed stray cats, so they were always around, and it drove my mother nuts.
- feed a stray cat
- find a stray cat
- adopt a stray cat
I don't feed the stray cat at all.
- I don't feed the stray cat at all.
- This thing called toxoplasmosis, which toxoplasmosis is a parasite that you get from cats, from stray cats.
- There were chickens, there were rabbits, there were other kinds of animals, couple dogs and lots of stray cats as well.
Examples
-
When we got to the fountain, the stray cats rushed at us, and Delia bent down to pet a few.
Fiction book (2002) -
You know how many stray cats are in London?
-
A few months ago, there was a very friendly stray cat hanging around our house.
Blog text (9) -
I can hear the stray cats meowing outside my window.
Fiction book (2002) -
We can't go chasing after stray cats and dogs!
-
A stray cat meowed piteously, setting off a fresh gush of tears.
Fiction book (2002) -
The stray cat wandered through the neighborhood, searching for food and shelter.
-
After weeks of feeding the stray cat, I decided to take her in as my pet.
-
Many communities set up feeding stations for stray cats to ensure they have enough food.
Synonyms
54
2.5
An animal, usually a cat or dog, that has no home
4
2.9
A cat with no home that lives on the streets
A cat that lives outdoors and is cared for by people in the neighborhood
Antonyms
How Domestic
Surface Forms
Morphology
The meaning 'a domestic cat without a home' is directly and transparently composed from 'stray' (an animal with no home) + 'cat' (a feline). This adjective+noun composition is a regular, cross-linguistically common pattern, so a B1 learner who knows both words will readily infer the MWE meaning.
Etymology
Stray cat comes from the word stray, which means to 'wander' away, so imagine a cat walking alone in the street with no home. That's why stray cat means a 'homeless' or abandoned cat.