noun / verb
allure
uh-LOOR/əˈlʊr/
The power to attract through charm or fascination.
The pastry's allure draws a customer closer to the bakery display.
Etymology
A falconer’s lure drew a hawk back with a feathered device used during feeding and training. That concrete attraction became a broader image of temptation, giving the noun its sense of a fascinating, desirable quality.
In context
the sensuous mixing of textures the glittering shine of the surface and even the appealing novelty of its small scale are all qualities that give it an almost magical tangible allure
More examples
- Even after twenty years, the city has not lost its allure.
- The prospect of adventure allures him.
- For many collectors, the allure lies in finding something rare.
Forms
allure · allures · allured · alluring
alluring adjective — Attracting through charm, beauty, or fascination.
Similar words
- charm
- Emphasizes pleasing qualities rather than a powerful or tempting attraction.
- appeal
- Covers general attractiveness, including practical advantages rather than fascination.
- fascination
- Suggests intense, sustained interest rather than simple attractive power.