interest
Interest means to bring someone’s attention to something.
(verb)An example of to interest is a store owner attracting shoppers with a decorated window.
Interest is defined as the amount of money paid for the use of someone else's money.
(noun)- An example of interest is the $20 that was earned this year on your savings account.
- An example of interest is the $2000 you paid in interest this year on your home loan.
The definition of interest is the right or claim someone has over something.
(noun)An example of interest is a landlord’s care for the welfare of their building.
See interest in Webster's New World College Dictionary
noun
- a right or claim to something
- a share or participation in something
- something, as a business, in which one participates or has a share
- a personal connection or involvement which might be thought to compromise one's impartiality in carrying out one's official duties
- advantage; welfare; benefit
- a group of people having a common concern or dominant power in some industry, occupation, cause, etc.: the steel interests
- personal influence
- a feeling of intentness, concern, or curiosity about something: an interest in politics
- the power of causing this feeling: books of interest to children
- something causing this feeling: the academic interests of a scholar
- importance; consequence: a matter of little interest
- money paid for the use of money
- the rate of such payment, expressed as a percentage per unit of time
- an increase over what is owed: to repay kindness with interest
Origin: ME interesse < ML usury, compensation (in L, to be between, be different, interest < inter-, between + esse, to be: see is): altered, infl. by OFr interest < L, it interests, concerns, 3d pers. sing., pres. indic., of interesse
transitive verb
- to involve the interest, or concern, of; have an effect upon
- to cause to have an interest or take part in: can I interest you in a game of golf?
- to excite the attention or curiosity of
Origin: prob. < ME interessed < interesse + -ed
See interest in American Heritage Dictionary 4
noun
- a. A state of curiosity or concern about or attention to something: an interest in sports.b. Something, such as a quality, subject, or activity, that evokes this mental state: counts the theater among his interests.
- Regard for one's own benefit or advantage; self-interest. Often used in the plural: It is in your best interest to cooperate. She kept her own interests in mind.
- a. A right, claim, or legal share: an interest in the new company.b. Something in which such a right, claim, or share is held: has interests overseas.c. A person or group of persons holding such a right, claim, or share: a petroleum interest.
- Involvement with or participation in something: She has an interest in the quality of her education.
- a. A charge for a loan, usually a percentage of the amount loaned.b. An excess or bonus beyond what is expected or due.
- a. An interest group.b. The particular cause supported by an interest group.
- To arouse the curiosity or hold the attention of: Your opinions interest me.
- To cause to become involved or concerned with: tried to interest her in taking a walk.
- Obsolete To concern or affect.
Origin:
Origin: Middle English
Origin: , from Old French
Origin: , from Latin, it is of importance
Origin: , third person sing. present tense of interesse, to be between, take part in
Origin: : inter-, inter-
Origin: + esse, to be; see es- in Indo-European roots
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