lure

[ loor ]

noun

1. anything that attracts, entices, or allures.

   Synonyms: temptation

2. the power of attracting or enticing.
3. a decoy; live or especially artificial bait used in fishing or trapping.
4. Falconry. a feathered decoy for attracting a hawk, swung at the end of a long line and sometimes baited with raw meat.
5. a flap or tassel dangling from the dorsal fin of pediculate fishes, as the angler, that attracts prey to the mouth region.

verb (used with object)

, lured, lur·ing.

1. to attract, entice, or tempt; allure.

   Synonyms: seduce

   Antonyms: repel

2. to draw or recall (especially a falcon), as by a lure or decoy.

lure

/ lʊə /

verb

1. sometimes foll byaway or into to tempt or attract by the promise of some type of reward
2. falconry to entice (a hawk or falcon) from the air to the falconer by a lure

noun

1. a person or thing that lures
2. angling any of various types of brightly-coloured artificial spinning baits, usually consisting of a plastic or metal body mounted with hooks and trimmed with feathers, etc See jig plug spoon
3. falconry a feathered decoy to which small pieces of meat can be attached and which is equipped with a long thong

Derived Forms

• ˈlurer, noun

Other Words From

• lurement noun
• lurer noun
• luring·ly adverb
• un·lured adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of lure¹

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English, from Anglo-French, Old French luere ( French leurre ), from Frankish lothr- (unrecorded); cognate with Middle High German luoder, German Luder “bait”

Word History and Origins

Origin of lure¹

C14: from Old French loirre falconer's lure, from Germanic; related to Old English lathian to invite

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

1. in lure, Heraldry. noting a pair of wings joined with the tips downward.

Example Sentences

That would hurt Tesla’s unprofitable rivals that rely more on the tax credits to lure customers.

From Los Angeles Times

Robinson recruited running back Eric Dickerson out of high school but couldn’t lure him to USC.

From Los Angeles Times

They could even lure me back to the classroom and to a profession I loved — just not more than I love my own children.

From Los Angeles Times

When Lyft faced a driver shortage in 2021, the ride-hailing company launched a major marketing campaign to lure drivers with eye-catching earnings — up to $43 an hour in Los Angeles, $41 in Portland and $33 in Atlanta, according to the Federal Trade Commission.

From Los Angeles Times

But the lure of working with LuPone and O’Brien, both long-time friends, proved irresistible.

From Los Angeles Times