lur´er

lure «lur», noun, verb, lured, lur|ing.

–n.

1. the power of attracting or fascinating; charm; allure; attraction: »

Many people feel the lure of the sea. Monarchs, whom the lure of honour draws (William Cowper).

2. something that allures, entices, or tempts: »

that grand lure in the eyes of the savage, a pocket mirror (Washington Irving).

3. a decoy or bait, especially an artificial bait used in fishing: »

[He] asked the sailor if he had ever tried deep-sea fishing with an artificial lure instead of bait (Newsweek).

4. a bunch of feathers, often with meat attached, tossed or swung at the end of a long cord or thong, used as a decoy in falconry to recall a hawk to its perch.

5. a bulb or tassellike process dangling over the head from the first dorsal ray of an angler or related fish.

–v.t.

1. to lead away or into something by arousing desire; allure; entice; tempt: »

Bees are lured by the scent of flowers. Pixies; don't go near 'em, child; they'll lure you on, Lord knows where (Henry Kingsley).

SYNONYM(S): attract.

2. to attract with a bait: »

We lured the fox into a trap.

3. to recall (a hawk) with a lure.

╂[< Old French leurre < Germanic (compare Middle High German luoder bait)]

–lur´er, noun.

–lur´ing|ly, adverb.

Synonym Study transitive verb. 1 Lure, allure, entice mean to attract or tempt. Lure, commonly in a bad sense, means to tempt by rousing desire and usually to lead into something bad or not to one's advantage: »

The hope of high profits lured him into questionable dealings.

Allure, seldom in a bad sense, means to tempt by appealing to the senses and feelings and by offering pleasure or advantage: »

Hawaii allures many tourists.

Entice, in a good or bad sense, means to tempt by appealing to hopes and desires and by using persuasion: »

We enticed the kitten from the tree.