verb
1. entice or induce especially when unwise or mistaken (Freq. 1)
• Verb Frames:
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Somebody ——s somebody
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Something ——s somebody
2. be false to; be dishonest with
• Derivationally related forms: ↑delusive (for: ↑delude), ↑delusory (for: ↑delude), ↑delusion (for: ↑delude), ↑deceptive (for: ↑deceive), ↑deception (for: ↑deceive)
• Hyponyms:
↑betray, ↑sell, ↑cheat, ↑chisel, ↑shill, ↑flim-flam, ↑play a joke on, ↑play tricks, ↑trick, ↑fob, ↑fox, ↑pull a fast one on, ↑play a trick on, ↑fool, ↑gull, ↑befool, ↑cheat on, ↑cuckold, ↑wander, ↑hoax, ↑pull someone's leg, ↑ensnare, ↑entrap, ↑frame, ↑set up, ↑humbug
• Verb Frames:
-
Somebody ——s somebody
-
Something ——s somebody
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[verb]
entice, beguile, deceive, draw on, lure, seduce, string along (informal), tempt
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\(ˈ)lē|dȯn, -dän\ transitive verb : to entice or induce to proceed in a course especially when unwise or mistaken
a more or less ignorant girl is led on by her irresponsible lover — H.M.Parshley
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lead on
1. To persuade to go on, to draw on
2. To persuade to do something foolish
3. To trick or deceive
• • •
Main Entry: ↑lead
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ˌlead ˈon [transitive] [present tense I/you/we/they lead on he/she/it leads on present participle leading on past tense led on past participle led on] phrasal verb
to encourage someone to do something or to expect something, especially by lying to them or promising them something that they cannot have
I hope he’s not just leading her on, because I’d hate to see her look foolish.
Thesaurus: to encourage someone to do or to not do somethingsynonym to tell lies and deceive peoplesynonym
Main entry: lead
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lead on [phrasal verb]
She was devastated when she found out that he didn't really love her, and had only been leading her on. [=he had been leading her to believe that he loved her]
• • •
Main Entry: ↑lead
Useful english dictionary. 2012.