First Known Use: 15th century
Dictionary
1interest
noun in·ter·est \ˈin-t(ə-)rəst; ˈin-tə-ˌrest, -ˌtrest; ˈin-tərst\
: a feeling of wanting to learn more about something or to be involved in something
: a quality that attracts your attention and makes you want to learn more about something or to be involved in something
: something (such as a hobby) that a person enjoys learning about or doing
Full Definition of INTEREST
1
2
a : a charge for borrowed money generally a percentage of the amount borrowed b : the profit in goods or money that is made on invested capital c : an excess above what is due or expected <returned the insults with interest>
3
: advantage, benefit; also : self-interest
4
5
a : a feeling that accompanies or causes special attention to an object or class of objects : concern b : something that arouses such attention c : a quality in a thing arousing interest
See interest defined for English-language learners
See interest defined for kids
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Origin of INTEREST
Middle English, probably alteration of earlier interesse, from Anglo-French & Medieval Latin; Anglo-French, from Medieval Latin, from Latin, to be between, make a difference, concern, from inter- + esse to be — more at is
Other Business Terms
Rhymes with INTEREST
abreast, abscessed, appressed, armrest, arrest, at best, at rest, attest, backrest, beau geste, bed rest, behest, bequest, blood test, congest, conquest, contest, crow's nest, depressed, detest, devest, digest, distressed, divest, egest, eighth rest, field-test, flight-test, footrest, gabfest, half rest, hard-pressed, headrest, high-test, hillcrest, hope chest, houseguest, imprest, incest, infest, ingest, inquest, invest, Key West, lovefest, love nest, Mae West, mare's nest, Midwest, molest, northwest, patch test, posttest, pretest, professed, protest, redbreast, repressed, request, revest, road test, scratch test, screen test, sea chest, skin test, slop chest, slugfest, southwest, spot test, steam chest, stress test, suggest, Trieste, t-test, unblessed, undressed, unrest, unstressed, war chest, whole rest, Wild West
2interest
verb
: to cause (someone) to want to learn more about something or to become involved in something
: to persuade (someone) to have, take, or participate in (something)
Full Definition of INTEREST
transitive verb
1
: to induce or persuade to participate or engage
2
: to engage the attention or arouse the interest of
See interest defined for English-language learners
First Known Use of INTEREST
1608
INTEREST Defined for Kids
1interest
noun in·ter·est \ˈin-trəst, ˈin-tə-rəst\
Definition of INTEREST for Kids
1
: a feeling of concern or curiosity about or desire to be involved with something <an interest in music> <We lost interest in the game.>
2
: a quality that makes something more appealing or interesting <Personal stories add interest to the book.>
3
: something that a person enjoys learning about or doing <Sports is one of his many interests.>
4
: something that provides help or benefit to a person or group <It's in your interest to study.>
5
: the money paid by a borrower for the use of borrowed money
6
: the profit made on money that is invested
7
: a right, title, or legal share in something <They bought out his interest in the company.>
8
interests plural : a group financially interested in an industry or business <mining interests>
2interest
verb
in·ter·est·edin·ter·est·ing
Definition of INTEREST for Kids
1
: to persuade to become involved in <Can I interest you in joining us?>
2
: to arouse and hold the concern, curiosity, or attention of <This movie doesn't interest me.>
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