noun
Literal sense: a person captured and held against their will, especially in war or conflict.
敵の虜になった兵士たちは捕虜収容所に送られた。
The soldiers who became captives of the enemy were sent to a prisoner-of-war camp.
noun
captive of love; slave to passion
Figurative sense: someone completely captivated by love, desire, or a strong emotion; often used in romantic or dramatic contexts.
彼は彼女の魅力の虜になった。
He became a captive of her charm.
甘いものの虜で、毎日ケーキを食べてしまう。
I'm a slave to sweets and end up eating cake every day.
Rare kanji compound; literary or historical.
捕虜 specifically means 'prisoner of war', while 虜 can be used more broadly for any captive or figurative enslavement.
The kanji 虜 originally meant 'captive' or 'prisoner'. The reading とりこ is a native Japanese word. The figurative sense developed from the idea of being 'captured' by emotions.