English Explanatory Dictionary

decoy

English dictionary entry

Meanings

noun
  1. A person or object meant to lure somebody into danger.
  2. A real or fake animal used by hunters to lure game.
  3. Deceptive military device used to draw enemy attention or fire away from a more important target.
  4. An assembly of hooped or netted corridors into which wild ducks may be enticed (originally by tame ducks) and trapped.
verb
  1. To lead into danger by artifice; to lure into a net or snare; to entrap.
  2. To act as, or use, a decoy.

Pronunciation

/ˈdiːkɔɪ/ en-us-decoy.ogg

Word forms

decoy decoys decoying decoyed

Etymology

From Dutch de + kooi, literally "the cage". Possibly related to verb coy (which itself may have been influenced by decoy).

Synonyms

body double decoy red herring

Related words

correspondent counterpart dependent fake imitate lie substitute red herring

Derived words

decoy-duck decoy effect decoyman duck decoy decoyable decoyer deke undecoyed
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