Lexical Definition

‎θήρα‎ thḗra (thay'-rah) trap ^G:N-F
from (a wild animal, as game)

trap.

• hunting, i.e. (figuratively) destruction

Abbott-Smith

θήρα, -ας, ἡ, [in LXX for צַיִד, טֶרֶף, רֶשֶׁת, and cogn. forms;]
1. a hunting, chase (Hdt., Xen., al.).
2. prey, game (cl.).
3. As in Ps 34(35:8)* = רֶשֶׁת, a net: Ro 11:9 (but v. Thayer, s.v.).†

Abbott-Smith References

Liddell-Scott-Jones

θήρα,

Ionic dialect θήρη, ἡ, hunting of wild beasts, the chase, βάν ῥ᾽ ἴμεν ἐς θήρην [Refs 8th c.BC+]; ζῶσι ἀπὸ θ. [θήραν 5th-6th c.BC: Xenophon Historicus “Institutio Cyri (Cyropaedia)” 1.4.14; θ. ποιεῖσθαι 4th c.BC: Aristoteles Philosophus “Historia Animalium” 541a20; τὰς θ. τῶν ὀρτύγων ἐποιοῦντο 1st c.BC: Diodorus Siculus Historicus 1.60 ">Refs 5th c.BC+]; τοῦ πτηνοῦ γένους θ., ={ὀρνιθευτική}, [Refs 5th c.BC+]; ἡ περὶ θάλατταν θ. fishing, [Refs 4th c.BC+]

__b in Ptolemaic Egypt, στρατηγὸς ἐπὶ τὴν θ. τῶν ἐλεφάντων [Refs 3rd c.BC+]
__2 metaphorically, eager pursuit of anything, θήραν.. ἔχομεν τόξων, ={θηρῶμεν τὰ τόξα}, [θήραν ἔχειν [prev. author] “Aj.” 564; θ. ἀνθρώπων 5th-6th c.BC: Plato Philosophus “Sophista” 222b, 222c; τοῦ ἡδέος [prev. author] “Grg.” 500d; ἐπιστημῶν [prev. author] “Tht.” 198a, etc. ">Refs 5th c.BC+]
__II prey, game, αἶψα δ᾽ ἔδωκε θεὸς μενοεικέα θήρην [Refs 8th c.BC+]; πρὶν κινεῖσθαι τὴν θ. [Refs 5th c.BC+]; θήραν καλήν, of a prisoner, [Refs 5th c.BC+]; τὴν θ. ἐπὶ τοῦ μέσου τηροῦσα watching its prey, of a spider, [Refs 4th c.BC+]
__III hunting-ground, preserve, Ἁδριανοῦ θῆραι [Refs 2nd c.AD+]
__IV in Roman times, the games of the Circus, [Refs]