'Interest' definitions:

Definition of 'interest'

(from WordNet)
noun
A sense of concern with and curiosity about someone or something; "an interest in music" [syn: interest, involvement]
noun
A reason for wanting something done; "for your sake"; "died for the sake of his country"; "in the interest of safety"; "in the common interest" [syn: sake, interest]
noun
The power of attracting or holding one's attention (because it is unusual or exciting etc.); "they said nothing of great interest"; "primary colors can add interest to a room" [syn: interest, interestingness] [ant: uninterestingness]
noun
A fixed charge for borrowing money; usually a percentage of the amount borrowed; "how much interest do you pay on your mortgage?"
noun
(law) a right or legal share of something; a financial involvement with something; "they have interests all over the world"; "a stake in the company's future" [syn: interest, stake]
noun
(usually plural) a social group whose members control some field of activity and who have common aims; "the iron interests stepped up production" [syn: interest, interest group]
noun
A diversion that occupies one's time and thoughts (usually pleasantly); "sailing is her favorite pastime"; "his main pastime is gambling"; "he counts reading among his interests"; "they criticized the boy for his limited pursuits" [syn: pastime, interest, pursuit]
verb
Excite the curiosity of; engage the interest of [ant: bore, tire]
verb
Be on the mind of; "I worry about the second Germanic consonant shift" [syn: concern, interest, occupy, worry]
verb
Be of importance or consequence; "This matters to me!" [syn: matter to, interest]

Definition of 'Interest'

From: GCIDE
  • Interest \In"ter*est\, n. [OF. interest, F. int['e]r[^e]t, fr. L. interest it interests, is of interest, fr. interesse to be between, to be difference, to be importance; inter between + esse to be; cf. LL. interesse usury. See Essence.] [1913 Webster]
  • 1. Excitement of feeling, whether pleasant or painful, accompanying special attention to some object; concern; a desire to learn more about a topic or engage often in an activity. [1913 Webster +PJC]
  • Note: Interest expresses mental excitement of various kinds and degrees. It may be intellectual, or sympathetic and emotional, or merely personal; as, an interest in philosophical research; an interest in human suffering; the interest which an avaricious man takes in money getting. [1913 Webster]
  • So much interest have I in thy sorrow. --Shak. [1913 Webster]
  • 2. (Finance, Commerce) Participation in advantage, profit, and responsibility; share; portion; part; as, an interest in a brewery; he has parted with his interest in the stocks. [1913 Webster]
  • 3. Advantage, personal or general; good, regarded as a selfish benefit; profit; benefit. [1913 Webster]
  • Divisions hinder the common interest and public good. --Sir W. Temple. [1913 Webster]
  • When interest calls of all her sneaking train. --Pope. [1913 Webster]
  • 4. (Finance) A fee paid for the use of money; a fee paid for a loan; -- usually reckoned as a percentage; as, interest at five per cent per annum on ten thousand dollars. [1913 Webster]
  • They have told their money, and let out Their coin upon large interest. --Shak. [1913 Webster]
  • 5. Any excess of advantage over and above an exact equivalent for what is given or rendered. [1913 Webster]
  • You shall have your desires with interest. --Shak. [1913 Webster]
  • 6. The persons interested in any particular business or measure, taken collectively; as, the iron interest; the cotton interest. [1913 Webster]
  • Compound interest, interest, not only on the original principal, but also on unpaid interest from the time it fell due.
  • Simple interest, interest on the principal sum without interest on overdue interest. [1913 Webster]

Definition of 'Interest'

From: GCIDE
  • Interest \In"ter*est\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Interested; p. pr. & vb. n. Interesting.] [From interess'd, p. p. of the older form interess, fr. F. int['e]resser, L. interesse. See Interest, n.] [1913 Webster]
  • 1. To engage the attention of; to awaken interest in; to excite emotion or passion in, in behalf of a person or thing; as, the subject did not interest him; to interest one in charitable work. [1913 Webster]
  • To love our native country . . . to be interested in its concerns is natural to all men. --Dryden. [1913 Webster]
  • A goddess who used to interest herself in marriages. --Addison. [1913 Webster]
  • 2. To be concerned with or engaged in; to affect; to concern; to excite; -- often used impersonally. [Obs.] [1913 Webster]
  • Or rather, gracious sir, Create me to this glory, since my cause Doth interest this fair quarrel. --Ford. [1913 Webster]
  • 3. To cause or permit to share. [Obs.] [1913 Webster]
  • The mystical communion of all faithful men is such as maketh every one to be interested in those precious blessings which any one of them receiveth at God's hands. --Hooker.
  • Syn: To concern; excite; attract; entertain; engage; occupy; hold. [1913 Webster]

Synonyms of 'interest'

From: Moby Thesaurus

Words containing 'Interest'