decoy
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de·coy
(dē′koi′, dĭ-koi′)n.
1.
a. A living or artificial bird or other animal used to entice game into a trap or within shooting range.
b. An enclosed place, such as a pond, into which wildfowl are lured for capture.
2. A means used to mislead or lead someone into danger.
tr.v. (dĭ-koi′) de·coyed, de·coy·ing, de·coys
1. To lure (an animal) into a trap or position to be hunted.
2. To entice or mislead by deception or into danger. See Synonyms at lure.
[Possibly from Dutch de kooi, the cage : de, the (from Middle Dutch; see to- in Indo-European roots) + kooi, cage (from Middle Dutch cōie, from Latin cavea).]
de·coy′er n.
American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
decoy
n
1. a person or thing used to beguile or lead someone into danger; lure
2. (Military) military something designed to deceive an enemy or divert his or her attention
3. (Hunting) a bird or animal, or an image of one, used to lure game into a trap or within shooting range
4. (Hunting) an enclosed space or large trap, often with a wide funnelled entrance, into which game can be lured for capture
5. (Hockey (Field & Ice)) Canadian another word for deke1
vb
6. to lure or be lured by or as if by means of a decoy
7. (Hockey (Field & Ice)) (tr) Canadian another word for deke2
[C17: probably from Dutch de kooi, literally: the cage, from Latin cavea cage]
deˈcoyer n
Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014
de•coy
(n. ˈdi kɔɪ, dɪˈkɔɪ; v. dɪˈkɔɪ, ˈdi kɔɪ)n.
1. a person who entices or lures another, as into danger or a trap.
2. anything used as a lure.
3. an artificial bird or a trained bird or other animal used to entice game into a trap or within gunshot.
4. a pond into which wild fowl are lured for capture.
5. an object capable of reflecting radar waves, used to fool radar detectors.
v.t., v.i. 6. to lure or be lured by or as if by a decoy.
[1610–20; variant of coy (now dial.) < Dutch (de) kooi (the) cage, Middle Dutch cōie < Latin cavea cage]
de•coy′er, n.
Random House Kernerman Webster's College Dictionary, © 2010 K Dictionaries Ltd. Copyright 2005, 1997, 1991 by Random House, Inc. All rights reserved.
decoy
An imitation in any sense of a person, object, or phenomenon which is intended to deceive enemy surveillance devices or mislead enemy evaluation. Also called dummy.
Dictionary of Military and Associated Terms. US Department of Defense 2005.
decoy
Past participle: decoyed
Gerund: decoying
| Imperative |
|---|
| decoy |
| decoy |
Collins English Verb Tables © HarperCollins Publishers 2011
ThesaurusAntonymsRelated WordsSynonymsLegend:
Switch to new thesaurus
| Noun | 1. |  decoy - a beguiler who leads someone into danger (usually as part of a plot)accomplice, confederate - a person who joins with another in carrying out some plan (especially an unethical or illegal plan) beguiler, cheater, deceiver, trickster, slicker, cheat - someone who leads you to believe something that is not true roper - a decoy who lures customers into a gambling establishment (especially one with a fixed game) shill - a decoy who acts as an enthusiastic customer in order to stimulate the participation of others |
| 2. |  decoy - something used to lure fish or other animals into danger so they can be trapped or killedchum - bait consisting of chopped fish and fish oils that are dumped overboard to attract fish device - an instrumentality invented for a particular purpose; "the device is small enough to wear on your wrist"; "a device intended to conserve water" fish lure, fisherman's lure - (angling) any bright artificial bait consisting of plastic or metal mounted with hooks and trimmed with feathers ground bait - bait scattered on the water to attract fish stool pigeon - a dummy pigeon used to decoy others trap - a device in which something (usually an animal) can be caught and penned | |
| Verb | 1. | decoy - lure or entrap with or as if with a decoy |
Based on WordNet 3.0, Farlex clipart collection. © 2003-2012 Princeton University, Farlex Inc.
decoy
noun
1. lure, attraction, bait, trap, inducement, enticement, ensnarement He acted as a decoy to draw the dogs' attention away from the children.
verb
Collins Thesaurus of the English Language – Complete and Unabridged 2nd Edition. 2002 © HarperCollins Publishers 1995, 2002
Translations
شَرَك، إغْواء
lákadlonávnada
lokkedue
tálbeita
lamatasmāneklisslazds
decoy
A. [ˈdiːkɔɪ] N (= bird) (artificial) → señuelo m, reclamo m; (live) → cimbel m, señuelo m, reclamo m (fig) (= bait) → cebo m, señuelo m
B. [dɪˈkɔɪ] VT → atraer (con señuelo)
Collins Spanish Dictionary - Complete and Unabridged 8th Edition 2005 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1971, 1988 © HarperCollins Publishers 1992, 1993, 1996, 1997, 2000, 2003, 2005
Collins English/French Electronic Resource. © HarperCollins Publishers 2005
decoy
Collins German Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged 7th Edition 2005. © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1980 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1997, 1999, 2004, 2005, 2007
decoy
[ˈdiːkɔɪ] n (bird) → (uccello da) richiamo (fig) (bait, thing) → tranello; (person) → escapolice decoy → poliziotto in borghese (usato come esca)
Collins Italian Dictionary 1st Edition © HarperCollins Publishers 1995
decoy
(ˈdiːkoi) noun anything intended to lead someone or something into a trap. The policewoman acted as a decoy when the police were trying to catch the murderer.
Kernerman English Multilingual Dictionary © 2006-2013 K Dictionaries Ltd.