Word forms: plural, 3rd person singular presenttense lures, present participle luring, past tense, past participle lured
1. verb
To lure someone means to trick them into a particular place or to trick them into doing something that they shouldnot do.
He lured her to his home and shot her with his father's gun. [VERB noun preposition/adverb]
They did not realise that they were being lured into a trap. [VERB noun preposition/adverb]
Supermarkets will try to lure customers back in with special offers. [VERB noun preposition/adverb]
Synonyms: tempt, draw, attract, invite More Synonyms of lure
2. countable noun
A lure is an object which is used to attract animals so that they can be caught.
3. countable noun [usually singular]
A lure is an attractive quality that something has, or something that you find attractive.
Plans like these will without doubt act as a lure to potential investors. [+ to]
The lure of rural life is proving as strong as ever. [+ of]
Synonyms: temptation, attraction, incentive, bait More Synonyms of lure
lure in British English
(lʊə)
verb(transitive)
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
3.
a person or thing that lures
4. 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
jig, plug, spoon
5. falconry
a feathered decoy to which small pieces of meat can be attached and which is equipped with a long thong
Derived forms
lurer (ˈlurer)
noun
Word origin
C14: from Old French loirre falconer's lure, from Germanic; related to Old English lathian to invite
lure in American English
(lʊr)
noun
1.
a device consisting of a bunch of feathers on the end of a long cord, often baited with food: it is used in falconry to recall the hawk
2.
a.
the power of attracting, tempting, or enticing
the lure of the stage
b.
anything that so attracts or tempts
3.
a bait for animals; esp., an artificial one used in fishing
verb transitiveWord forms: lured or ˈluring
4.
to recall (a falcon) with a lure
5.
to attract, tempt, or entice
often with on
SYNONYMY NOTE: lure suggests an irresistible force, as desire, greed, curiosity, etc., in attractingsomeone, esp. to something harmful or evil [lured on by false hopes]; entice implies a crafty or skillful luring [he enticed the squirrel to eat from his hand]; inveigle suggests the use of deception or cajolery in enticing someone [they inveigled him with false promises]; decoy implies the use of deceptive appearances in luring into a trap [artificial birds are used to decoy wild ducks]; beguile suggests the use of subtly alluring devices in leading someone on [beguiled by her sweet words]; tempt suggests the influence of a powerful attraction that tends to overcome scruples orjudgment [I'm tempted to accept your offer]; seduce implies enticement to a wrongful or unlawful act, especially to loss of chastity
OPPOSITE: repel
Derived forms
lurer (ˈlurer)
noun
Word origin
ME < MFr leurre < OFr loirre, prob. < Frank or Goth *lōthr, akin to MDu loder, lure, OE lathian, to invite
Examples of 'lure' in a sentence
lure
It is not simply a question of luring back British officials from Brussels.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
France moved to capitalise on Brexit yesterday with the launch of a scheme to lure businesses away from the City.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
The lure of gang life competes fiercely with the appeal of graduation.
Christianity Today (2000)
The lure of a big cash payout is sometimes too great to resist.
The Sun (2015)
Today hairdressing needs to prise young people away from the lure of university degrees.
Times, Sunday Times (2006)
We reckon our top tips could lure viewers back in their droves in no time.
The Sun (2012)
This time drivers could find the lure of cheaper premiums too hard to resist.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
The man was pretending to lure me away using a squeaky rubber duck.
The Sun (2016)
Investors were lured with the promise of high returns at low risk.
Times, Sunday Times (2011)
But the biggest one is luring him back home.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
It has accused them of conducting an unlawful conspiracy to lure away its staff and clients.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
Then there is the lure of life in London.
The Sun (2016)
It could be that British history lures us back.
The Sun (2014)
Clearly, politics exercises a strong lure.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
The lure of British life is strong.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
The voters who the leadership rivals are trying to lure back to Labour are not only bored but actively hostile.
The Sun (2010)
The company is made up of dancers who usually come from smaller companies, lured by the possibility of dancing solo roles.
The Times Literary Supplement (2008)
Many have been recruited forcibly, while others have run away from home, lured by the promise of food.
Times, Sunday Times (2011)
This has been interpreted as a human being wearing an animal skin, playing music to lure the game into his sights, but he is still a mystery.
The Times Literary Supplement (2012)
In other languages
lure
British English: lure VERB
To lure someone means to trick them into a particular place or to trick them into doing something that they should not do.
He feared he might be lured into a trap.
American English: lure
Brazilian Portuguese: atrair
Chinese: 引诱
European Spanish: engatusar
French: attirer
German: locken
Italian: attirare con l'inganno
Japanese: 誘惑する
Korean: 유인하다
European Portuguese: atrair
Latin American Spanish: engatusar
British English: lure NOUN
A lure is an object which is used to attract animals so that they can be caught.
American English: lure
Brazilian Portuguese: isca
Chinese: 诱饵
European Spanish: cebo
French: appât
German: Köder
Italian: richiamo
Japanese: おとり
Korean: 미끼
European Portuguese: isca
Latin American Spanish: cebo
Chinese translation of 'lure'
lure
(luəʳ)
vt
(= entice, tempt)
to lure sb into/to sth引诱(誘)某人进(進)入某处(處)/做某事 (yǐnyòu mǒurén jìnrù mǒuchù/zuò mǒushì)
n(c)
(= attraction) 魅力 (mèilì) (种(種), zhǒng)
(Fishing, Hunting) 饵(餌) (ěr)
(verb)
Definition
to tempt or attract by the promise of reward
They did not realise that they were being lured into a trap.
Synonyms
tempt
Don't let credit tempt you to buy something you can't afford.
draw
The game is currently drawing huge crowds
attract
Summer attracts visitors to the countryside.
invite
Their refusal to compromise will invite more criticism from the UN.
trick
seduce
The view of the lake and plunging cliffs seduces visitors.
entice
Retailers will try almost anything to entice shoppers through their doors.
beckon
All the attractions of the peninsula beckon.
lead on
allure
The dog was allured by the smell of roasting meat.
decoy
They used flares to decoy enemy missiles.
ensnare
inveigle
(noun)
Definition
a person or thing that lures
The lure of rural life is proving as strong as ever.
Synonyms
temptation
the many temptations to which they will be exposed
attraction
It was never a physical attraction, just a meeting of minds.
incentive
There is little incentive to adopt such measures.
bait
bait to attract audiences for advertisements
carrot (informal)
magnet
inducement
They offer every inducement to encourage investment.
decoy
He acted as a decoy to draw the dogs' attention away from the children.
enticement
The cash bonus is an added enticement for the bank's customers.
siren song
allurement
Additional synonyms
in the sense of allure
The dog was allured by the smell of roasting meat.
Synonyms
attract,
persuade,
charm,
win over,
tempt,
lure,
seduce,
entice,
enchant,
lead on,
coax,
captivate,
beguile,
cajole,
decoy,
inveigle
in the sense of attract
Definition
to arouse the interest or admiration of
Summer attracts visitors to the countryside.
Synonyms
allure,
interest,
draw,
invite,
persuade,
engage,
charm,
appeal to,
fascinate,
win over,
tempt,
lure (informal),
induce,
incline,
seduce,
entice,
enchant,
endear,
lead on,
coax,
captivate,
beguile,
cajole,
bewitch,
decoy,
inveigle,
pull,
catch (someone's) eye
in the sense of attraction
Definition
an interesting or desirable feature
It was never a physical attraction, just a meeting of minds.
Synonyms
appeal,
interest,
draw,
pull (informal),
come-on (informal),
charm,
incentive,
invitation,
lure,
bait,
temptation,
fascination,
attractiveness,
allure,
inducement,
magnetism,
enchantment,
endearment,
enticement,
captivation,
temptingness,
pleasingness
Synonyms of 'lure'
lure
Explore 'lure' in the dictionary
Additional synonyms
in the sense of bait
Definition
an enticement
bait to attract audiences for advertisements
Synonyms
lure,
attraction,
incentive,
carrot (informal),
temptation,
bribe,
magnet,
snare,
inducement,
decoy,
carrot and stick,
honeypot,
enticement,
allurement
in the sense of beckon
Definition
to lure
All the attractions of the peninsula beckon.
Synonyms
lure,
call,
draw,
pull (informal),
attract,
invite,
tempt,
entice,
coax,
allure
in the sense of decoy
Definition
to lure into danger by means of a decoy
They used flares to decoy enemy missiles.
Synonyms
lure,
tempt,
entice,
seduce,
deceive,
allure,
ensnare,
entrap,
inveigle
in the sense of decoy
Definition
an image of a bird or animal, used to lure game into a trap or within shooting range
He acted as a decoy to draw the dogs' attention away from the children.
Synonyms
lure,
attraction,
bait,
trap,
inducement,
enticement,
ensnarement
in the sense of draw
Definition
to attract
The game is currently drawing huge crowds
Synonyms
entice,
attract,
pull in,
win,
bring in
in the sense of entice
Definition
to attract (someone) away from one place or activity to another
Retailers will try almost anything to entice shoppers through their doors.
Synonyms
lure,
attract,
invite,
persuade,
draw,
tempt,
induce,
seduce,
lead on,
coax,
beguile,
allure,
cajole,
decoy,
wheedle,
prevail on,
inveigle,
dangle a carrot in front of
in the sense of enticement
The cash bonus is an added enticement for the bank's customers.
Synonyms
attraction,
appeal,
incentive,
invitation,
lure,
bait,
temptation,
persuasion,
come-on (informal),
coaxing,
seduction,
inducement,
cajolery,
allurement,
inveiglement
in the sense of incentive
Definition
something that encourages effort or action
There is little incentive to adopt such measures.
Synonyms
inducement,
motive,
encouragement,
urge,
come-on (informal),
spur,
lure,
bait,
motivation,
carrot (informal),
impulse,
stimulus,
impetus,
stimulant,
goad,
incitement,
enticement
in the sense of inducement
Definition
something that encourages someone to do something
They offer every inducement to encourage investment.
Synonyms
incentive,
motive,
cause,
influence,
reward,
come-on (informal),
spur,
consideration,
attraction,
lure,
bait,
carrot (informal),
encouragement,
impulse,
stimulus,
incitement,
clarion call
in the sense of invite
Definition
to bring on or provoke
Their refusal to compromise will invite more criticism from the UN.
Synonyms
encourage,
attract,
cause,
draw,
lead to,
court,
ask for (informal),
generate,
foster,
tempt,
provoke,
induce,
bring on,
solicit,
engender,
allure,
call forth,
leave the door open to
Additional synonyms
in the sense of seduce
Definition
to tempt into wrongdoing
The view of the lake and plunging cliffs seduces visitors.