lure
- 01 B2 Upper Intermediate
v.to persuade someone to go somewhere or do something by offering them something exciting.
v.to entice or tempt a person or animal to move toward a specific location or action, often through guile or the promise of reward.
Simple“The company tried to lure him away from his current job with a higher salary.”
In context“The promise of rapid career advancement was designed to lure the most talented graduates into the firm's intensive training programme.”
UsageThis is a transitive verb that always requires an object.
- 02 B2 Upper Intermediate
n.the attractive quality of something that makes you want it.
n.the power of attracting or enticing; a quality that makes something seem very appealing.
Simple“The lure of fame and fortune led many young people to the city.”
In context“Despite the risks involved in the expedition, the lure of discovery proved too strong for the seasoned explorers to resist.”
Synonyms - 03 C1 Advanced
n.an artificial object used to attract and catch fish.
n.an artificial bait, often brightly coloured or reflective, used in angling to attract predatory fish.
Simple“He chose a shiny silver lure to catch the attention of the trout.”
In context“The angler carefully selected a surface lure that mimicked the movement of a wounded insect to trigger a strike from the bass.”
- 04 C2 Proficiency
n.a bunch of feathers on a string used to call a hawk back to its owner.
n.an apparatus, typically consisting of feathers or leather, used by falconers to recall a hawk or falcon during training.
Simple“The falconer swung the lure in a circle to bring the bird back to his glove.”
In context“Training a young raptor requires the precise use of the lure to ensure the bird associates the signal with a food reward.”
Synonyms
“The bars in the city's famous Walking Street still screen videos on their walls of pole-dancing women, trying to lure customers inside.”
From Anglo-Norman lure, from Old French loirre (Modern French leurre), from Frankish lōþr, from Proto-Germanic lōþr-, perhaps ultimately related to laþō (“invitation, calling”), or from Proto-Indo-European leh₂- (“to hide”). Compare English allure, also from Old French. Probably related to German Luder (“bait”).
Borrowed from Icelandic lúðr.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.