From Longman Dictionary of Contemporary Englishlulllull1 /lʌl/ verb [transitive] 1 SLEEPCALMto make someone feel calm or as if they want to sleep The hum of the tyres on the road lulled her to sleep.2 TRICK/DECEIVEto make someone feel safe and confident so that they are completely surprised when something bad happenslull somebody into (doing) something The police lulled me into believing that they did not suspect us. Earthquakes here are rare and this has lulled people into a false sense of security (=made people think they were safe when they were not).→ See Verb table
Examples from the Corpus
lull• An attempt to lull him into a false sense of security.• She lulled him to sleep so that she might always find him and caress him as she pleased.• He had not had his usual nap, so surely the rhythm of the car would lull him?• But some people think too much emphasis is being put on duration, lulling investors into a false sense of comfort.• Waves of ecstatic and delicate color vibrated around me and lulled me to a sense of peace beyond comprehension.• The soft music lulled me to sleep.• I wonder whether I lay waiting, having to do without him and lull myself the whole way to sleep.• The mind must try to lull the body into the automatic response that has been instilled during practice.• The sound of waves is the finest way to be lulled to sleep!lull somebody into (doing) something• But some people think too much emphasis is being put on duration, lulling investors into a false sense of comfort.• An attempt to lull him into a false sense of security.• Whatever the cause, toxic work situations sap your energy and lull you into a stupor.• In fact, I may have been lulled by that into an unwise bravado.• The tests have lulled the public into believing the water is safe to drink.• It was possible, of course, that Stillman was merely biding his time, lulling the world into lethargy before striking.• The mind must try to lull the body into the automatic response that has been instilled during practice.• They would use stealth, lull me into thinking there was no danger.• But tonight it had no power to lull her into unconsciousness.lulllull2 noun [countable] 1 PAUSEa short period of time when there is less activity or less noise than usuallull in a brief lull in the conversation a lull in the fighting2 → the lull before the stormExamples from the Corpus
lull• If they were not going to cut Low Meadow there would be a lull in the work of the farm.• For two days there had been a lull in the fighting.• I waited for a lull in the conversation, before getting up to go.• Managers at Metrocentre have reported a lull in the recession, as takings continue to soar.• Two days later there was a lull in the fighting, at least as far as our company was concerned.• There was a lull, and then the thunder came again.• A mere lull, she told herself, smiling, in an ongoing battle.• A second's lull, then such a din!• The temporary lull was broken by sudden shouted orders.• Then came the lull before the storm.• But I was like a wrecked mariner in the lull between two storms.• Bill Lucas, used the lull to call in artillery fire and F-18 Hornet bomber strikes on suspected enemy positions.lull in• a brief lull in the conversationFrom Longman Business Dictionarylulllull1 /lʌl/ noun [countable usually singular]COMMERCE a period of time during which there is very little buying, selling, spending etc taking placeThe bond market is slipping into a year-end lull.Buying has hit a seasonal lull.lull inan expected short-term lull in demandlulllull2 verb [transitive] to make someone feel confident and trusting so that they can be deceived or are not prepared for what happenslull somebody into somethingSome investors were lulled into a false sense of security (=made to feel that things are safe when they are not).→ See Verb tableOrigin lull1 (1300-1400) Probably from the sound of someone singing to a baby 