Lure: meaning, definitions and examples

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lure

[lʊər ]

Definitions

^{Context #1 | Noun}

fishing

A lure is an artificial bait used to attract fish. It is designed to mimic the appearance and movements of natural prey, in order to entice fish to bite.

Synonyms

bait, decoy, enticement.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

Word	Description / Examples
lure	Typically used to describe something attractive that draws someone or something toward it. Can be both positive and negative. The entrepreneur used promises of wealth to lure investors. Bright colors and music lured people to the festival.
bait	Commonly used in the context of fishing or hunting, where it refers to something used to attract and catch fish or animals. It can also mean something used to entice someone into a trap or a difficult situation. Often has a negative connotation. The fisherman used worms as bait to catch the fish. The scammer baited victims with promises of easy money.
decoy	Used when referring to an object or person that is used to distract or mislead someone or something. Often has a strategic or deceptive connotation. The hunter set up a decoy to lure ducks into the open. The spy used a decoy to avoid being followed.
enticement	Refers to something that tempts or attracts, usually something that appeals to someone’s desires or interests. Can be both positive and negative depending on the context. The enticement of a big reward made him take the risk. The job offer included many enticements such as a high salary and flexible hours.

Examples of usage

He used a shiny lure to catch a big fish.
The fisherman carefully selected the right lure for the job.

^{Context #2 | Verb}

attraction

To lure means to entice or tempt someone to do something, usually by offering some sort of reward or incentive.

Synonyms

attract, entice, tempt.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

Word	Description / Examples
lure	Use 'lure' when you want to convey the idea of drawing someone towards something, often with cunning or deceit, and it generally has a negative connotation. The fisherman used a bright feather to lure the fish. Scammers often lure victims with promises of quick money.
entice	Use 'entice' when suggesting the act of alluring or tempting someone to do something, often by offering something appealing. It can have a slightly negative or seductive undertone. Shops use huge discounts to entice customers during sales. She was enticed into the job by the promise of a high salary.
tempt	Use 'tempt' to describe causing someone to want something, often something they should avoid or may not ordinarily choose. It has a negative connotation. The aroma of fresh bread tempted him to break his diet. The chance of easy money tempted him into bad decisions.
attract	Use 'attract' in a neutral or positive context to describe drawing attention or interest, often due to appealing qualities. The beautiful garden attracts many tourists. Good salaries and benefits attract skilled workers to the company.

Examples of usage

The company lured customers with a special discount.
She was lured into joining the club with promises of exclusive benefits.

Interesting Facts

Etymology

The word traces back to the Middle English term 'luren', meaning to entice or lead.
It is likely derived from the Old French word 'leurre', meaning bait or decoy, which itself has roots in the Latin 'delicere' (to entice).

Nature

In nature, anglerfish use bioluminescent lures to attract prey in the deep sea.
Many animals utilize colors and movements as lures to both attract mates and deceive predators.

Psychology

Marketing often employs lures to capture attention, using bright colors and appealing messages to attract customers.
Psychologists study how seductive lures can manipulate decision-making, affecting how we perceive risk and reward.

Pop Culture

In fairy tales, characters are often lured away from safety by intriguing figures like witches or magical creatures.
Films and literature frequently explore themes of deception, where characters are lured into traps by false promises or appearances.

Fishing

In fishing, a lure is an artificial bait designed to mimic the swimming motion of prey, often equipped with hooks.
Different types of lures (like spinners or plugs) are used to attract specific fish species based on their feeding behaviors.

Translations

Translations of the word "lure" in other languages:

🇵🇹 isca

🇮🇳 प्रलोभन

🇩🇪 Köder

🇮🇩 umpan

🇺🇦 приманка

🇵🇱 przynęta

🇯🇵 餌 (esa)

🇫🇷 appât

🇪🇸 cebo

🇹🇷 yem

🇰🇷 미끼 (mikki)

🇸🇦 طُعْم (ṭuʿm)

🇨🇿 návnada

🇸🇰 návnada

🇨🇳 诱饵 (yòu'ěr)

🇸🇮 vaba

🇮🇸 beita

🇰🇿 қызықтыру

🇬🇪 მოტყუება

🇦🇿 tələyə salmaq

🇲🇽 cebo

Word Frequency Rank

Ranked #11,946, this word falls into high-advanced vocabulary. It appears less frequently but is valuable for expressing precise meanings in specific contexts.

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11943 bipolar
11944 melts
11945 flaws
11946 lure
11947 untrue
11948 straining
11949 loaf
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