noun
Uncommon
lure
loor
Lure (noun) means something that tempts or attracts, often with the promise of pleasure or reward. Example: “The lure of easy money drew him into the scam.”
noun
1
Something that tempts or attracts, often with the promise of pleasure or reward.
"The lure of easy money drew him into the scam."
"Many young people feel the lure of the big city and its bright lights."
"The lure of a warm bed made it hard to get up."
2
An artificial bait used to attract fish.
"He tied a bright red lure onto his fishing line."
"The shop sells a shiny lure that looks like a small silver minnow."
"Trout ignored every lure he tried until the sun went down."
verb
1
To attract someone by offering something tempting.
"The company lured top engineers away with huge salaries."
"A trail of breadcrumbs lured the birds into the garden."
"The smell of fresh bread lured customers into the little bakery."
How to use lure
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishSomething tempting used to attract someone (or a fish), or the act of tempting them that way.
Common pairings
the lure of
lure someone away
fishing lure
Vocabulary Flow
Build your vocabulary from words like lure.
Vocabulary Flow serves the next word, and the next — meaning, pronunciation and an example each time. Practice at your level, or learn English in your own language.
Start vocabulary practice
Word forms
- Plural
- lures
- Third person singular
- lures
- Past tense
- lured
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The _____ of easy money drew him into the scam.
Etymology
From Old French loirre, from a Frankish word for the object used to call a hawk back in falconry — its root may connect to a very old word meaning "invitation."
Synonyms
View more →Related words
Rhymes for lure
See all rhymes for lure →Frequently asked questions
What does “lure” mean?
The word “lure” means something that tempts or attracts, often with the promise of pleasure or reward. In plain terms, something tempting used to attract someone (or a fish), or the act of tempting them that way.
How do you pronounce “lure”?
“Lure” is pronounced loor (/lʊəɹ/ in IPA).
How do you use “lure” in a sentence?
Here is “lure” used in a sentence: “The lure of easy money drew him into the scam.”
What part of speech is “lure”?
Depending on how it is used, “lure” can be a noun and a verb.
Where does the word “lure” come from?
The word “lure” comes from Old French. From Old French loirre, from a Frankish word for the object used to call a hawk back in falconry — its root may connect to a very old word meaning "invitation.".
Is “lure” a common word?
“Lure” is an uncommon word in modern English.
How many meanings does “lure” have?
“Lure” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: something that tempts or attracts, often with the promise of pleasure or reward.
What is the difference between a "lure" and "bait"?
A "lure" is typically an artificial object designed to attract fish by imitating prey, while "bait" is often real or natural food used for the same purpose. Both are used to attract fish, but a lure specifically implies an artificial device.
What is the difference between "lure" and "tempt"?
"Lure" and "tempt" both describe attracting someone with something appealing, but "lure" often carries a stronger sense of drawing someone toward something, sometimes with an implication of risk or deception, while "tempt" focuses more simply on the pull of desire.
Can "lure" be used for people as well as fish?
Yes. As a verb, "lure" describes attracting a person by offering something tempting, and as a noun it can describe any tempting attraction, not just artificial fishing bait.
