Definition

1. Noun:

   • A device or object used to attract and entice an animal, especially for capture: A "lure" is something, often bait or a decoy, designed to attract fish, birds, or other animals into a trap or within reach.
   • A powerful or deceptive attraction: A "lure" is anything that tempts or entices a person with the promise of reward or pleasure.
   • The attractive quality of something: The "lure" of something is its power to attract by offering a desirable prospect.

2. Verb:

   • To tempt or attract by offering something desirable: To "lure" someone is to persuade them to do something or go somewhere by promising or suggesting a benefit, which may sometimes be false or exaggerated.

Examples of Usage

• Noun:

  • The fisherman used a shiny new lure to catch the big trout.
  • The lure of quick money can lead people into making poor decisions.
  • He couldn't resist the lure of adventure in distant lands.

• Verb:

  • The company tried to lure the expert away from their competitor with a huge salary.
  • The thief used a clever story to lure the tourist into a dark alley.

Advanced Usage

• "To lure someone into something": To tempt or trick someone into a situation, often a bad one.
  • The scam artist lured investors into a fake business scheme.
• "To lure someone away (from)": To attract someone to leave their current place or situation.
  • The rival team is trying to lure our best player away.

Variants and Related Words

• Lurer (noun): One who lures.
  • The angler was a skilled lurer of fish.
• Alluring (adjective): Powerfully attractive or tempting.
  • She had an alluring smile.

Synonyms

• Noun: Attraction, enticement, temptation, bait, decoy.
• Verb: Entice, tempt, attract, seduce, draw in.

Related Phrasal Verbs

• Lure in: To successfully attract and draw someone into a place or situation.
  • The store's big sale lured in hundreds of customers.
• Lure back: To attract someone or something to return.
  • The improved menu is designed to lure back former customers.

Related Idioms

• The lure of the unknown: The attraction of things that are unfamiliar or mysterious.
  • He was driven by the lure of the unknown.
• A siren's lure: Refers to an irresistible but dangerous attraction (from Greek mythology).
  • The promise of easy wealth was a siren's lure that led to his ruin.

Noun

1. something used to lure fish or other animals into danger so they can be trapped or killed
2. anything that serves as an enticement
3. qualities that attract by seeming to promise some kind of reward

Verb

1. provoke someone to do something through (often false or exaggerated) promises or persuasion
   • He lured me into temptation