a feeling of having one's attention attracted by something: [countable]an interest in architecture.[uncountable]I lost interest in the movie.
something that arouses such feelings:[countable]Chess is his only interest.
the power to excite such feelings:[uncountable]a subject that holds little interest for me.
concern or importance:[uncountable]a matter of great interest.
a cause, etc., in which a person has a concern:[countable]made that slow business a going interest.
Business a legal share, right, or title, as in the ownership of property:[countable]a small interest in the property he inherited from his mother.
Often, interests.[plural] a group having influence on and often financially involved in an area of activity:[countable]Big Oil interests in congressional races.
benefit; advantage: [often: interests; plural]We have your best interests in mind.[uncountable]It's in your best interest.
Business money paid or charged for a loan (often expressed as a percent):[uncountable]borrowed at 8 percent interest.
something added to be more than an exact equivalent:[uncountable]returned the insult with interest.
v.[~ + object* not: be + ~-ing]
to excite the attention of:Nothing interests her anymore.[it + ~ + object + that clause]It interests me that you want to see him.
to concern (a person, etc.); to be in the interests of:The fight for peace interests most nations.
to cause to participate:Can I interest you in dinner and a movie?
Idioms
Idiomsin the interest(s) of, for the sake of; on behalf of:acting in the interests of good government.
in•ter•est(in′tər ist, -trist),USA pronunciationn.
the feeling of a person whose attention, concern, or curiosity is particularly engaged by something:She has a great interest in the poetry of Donne.
something that concerns, involves, draws the attention of, or arouses the curiosity of a person:His interests are philosophy and chess.
power of exciting such concern, involvement, etc.; quality of being interesting:political issues of great interest.
concern; importance:a matter of primary interest.
a business, cause, or the like in which a person has a share, concern, responsibility, etc.
a share, right, or title in the ownership of property, in a commercial or financial undertaking, or the like:He bought half an interest in the store.
a participation in or concern for a cause, advantage, responsibility, etc.
a number or group of persons, or a party, financially interested in the same business, industry, or enterprise:the banking interest.
interests, the group of persons or organizations having extensive financial or business power.
the state of being affected by something in respect to advantage or detriment:We need an arbiter who is without interest in the outcome.
benefit; advantage:to have one's own interest in mind.
regard for one's own advantage or profit; self-interest:The partnership dissolved because of their conflicting interests.
influence from personal importance or capability; power of influencing the action of others.
Business[Finance.]
a sum paid or charged for the use of money or for borrowing money.
Businesssuch a sum expressed as a percentage of money borrowed to be paid over a given period, usually one year.
something added or thrown in above an exact equivalent:Jones paid him back with a left hook and added a right uppercut for interest.
Idiomsin the interest(s) of, to the advantage or advancement of; in behalf of:in the interests of good government.
v.t.
to engage or excite the attention or curiosity of:Mystery stories interested him greatly.
to concern (a person, nation, etc.) in something; involve:The fight for peace interests all nations.
to cause to take a personal concern or share; induce to participate:to interest a person in an enterprise.
to cause to be concerned; affect.
Medieval Latin, Latin: to concern, literally, to be between; (verb, verbal) earlier interess as verb, verbal use of the noun, nominal; see inter-, esse
Medieval Latin, Latin: it concerns, literally, it is between; replacing interesse