lure
lure Lexical Profile
lure Game Scores & Validity
• noun
Something that tempts or is used to tempt a person or animal to do something or go somewhere.
"The lure of quick wealth caused many people to invest in the risky startup."
An artificial object used to attract and catch fish or other animals.
"The angler cast a brightly colored lure into the river, hoping to catch a trout."
A bunch of feathers or an artificial bird attached to a long cord, used in falconry to recall the hawk.
"The falconer swung the lure in wide circles to bring the peregrine back to the glove."
• verb
To tempt a person or animal to do something or to go somewhere, especially by offering some form of reward or through deception.
"The delicious aroma of freshly baked bread lured the children into the kitchen."
Word Nuance & Usage
While 'attract' is generally a neutral term, 'lure' often implies drawing someone or something in through temptation, deception, or trickery.
• Rhymes for lure
Word Origin & Etymology
From Middle English 'lure', originally a 14th-century falconry term for a bunch of feathers used to recall hawks. It derives from Old French 'loirre', which is of Germanic origin.
Usage Trend
Historical frequency of usage in published text.