Definition of Interest

1. Noun. A sense of concern with and curiosity about someone or something. "An interest in music"

Exact synonyms: Involvement
Specialized synonyms: Enthusiasm, Concern
Generic synonyms: Curiosity, Wonder
Derivative terms: Involve

2. Verb. Excite the curiosity of; engage the interest of.
Specialized synonyms: Absorb, Engage, Engross, Occupy, Fascinate, Grip, Spellbind, Transfix
Generic synonyms: Arouse, Elicit, Enkindle, Evoke, Fire, Kindle, Provoke, Raise
Antonyms: Bore

3. Noun. A reason for wanting something done. "In the common interest"
Exact synonyms: Sake
Generic synonyms: Benefit, Welfare
Specialized synonyms: Behalf

4. Verb. Be on the mind of. "The bad news will interest him"; "I worry about the second Germanic consonant shift"
Exact synonyms: Concern, Occupy, Worry
Derivative terms: Concern, Concern, Occupation

5. Noun. The power of attracting or holding one's attention (because it is unusual or exciting etc.). "Primary colors can add interest to a room"

6. Verb. Be of importance or consequence. "This matters to me!"
Exact synonyms: Matter To
Generic synonyms: Bear On, Come To, Concern, Have-to Doe With, Pertain, Refer, Relate, Touch, Touch On
Specialized synonyms: Fascinate, Intrigue

7. Noun. A fixed charge for borrowing money; usually a percentage of the amount borrowed. "How much interest do you pay on your mortgage?"
Generic synonyms: Fixed Charge, Fixed Cost, Fixed Costs
Specialized synonyms: Compound Interest, Simple Interest

8. Noun. (law) a right or legal share of something; a financial involvement with something. "A stake in the company's future"

9. Noun. (usually plural) a social group whose members control some field of activity and who have common aims. "The iron interests stepped up production"
Exact synonyms: Interest Group
Language type: Plural, Plural Form
Generic synonyms: Social Group
Specialized synonyms: Special Interest, Vested Interest

10. Noun. A diversion that occupies one's time and thoughts (usually pleasantly). "They criticized the boy for his limited pursuits"
Exact synonyms: Pastime, Pursuit
Generic synonyms: Diversion, Recreation
Specialized synonyms: Avocation, By-line, Hobby, Pursuit, Sideline, Spare-time Activity
Derivative terms: Pursue

Definition of Interest

1. v. t. 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.

2. n. Excitement of feeling, whether pleasant or painful, accompanying special attention to some object; concern.

Definition of Interest

1. Noun. (uncountable finance) The price paid for obtaining, or price received for providing, money or goods in a credit transaction, calculated as a fraction of the amount or value of what was borrowed. (defdate from earlier 16th c.) ¹

2. Noun. A great attention and concern from someone or something; intellectual curiosity. (defdate from later 18th c.) ¹

3. Noun. Attention that is given to or received from someone or something. ¹

4. Noun. A business or amorous link or involvement. ¹

5. Noun. (obsolete rare) Injury, or compensation for injury; damages. ¹

6. Verb. To attract attention or concern. ¹

¹ Source: wiktionary.com

Definition of Interest

1. to engage the attention of [v -ED, -ING, -S]

Medical Definition of Interest

1. 1. Excitement of feeling, whether pleasant or painful, accompanying special attention to some object; concern. 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. "So much interest have I in thy sorrow." (Shak) 2. Participation in advantage, profit, and responsibility; share; portion; part; as, an interest in a brewery; he has parted with his interest in the stocks. 3. Advantage, personal or general; good, regarded as a selfish benefit; profit; benefit. "Divisions hinder the common interest and public good." (Sir W. Temple) "When interest calls of all her sneaking train." (Pope) 4. Premium paid for the use of money, usually reckoned as a percentage; as, interest at five per cent per annum on ten thousand dollars. "They have told their money, and let out Their coin upon large interest." (Shak) 5. Any excess of advantage over and above an exact equivalent for what is given or rendered. "You shall have your desires with interest." (Shak) 6. The persons interested in any particular business or measure, taken collectively; as, the iron interest; the cotton interest. 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. Origin: OF. Interest, F. Interet, 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. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998)

Lexicographical Neighbors of Interest

interdunal
interdune
interdunes
interectopic interval
intered
interelectrode
interelectron
interelectronic
interepidemic
interepimeral
interequinoctial
interess
interessed
interesses
interessing
interest (current term)
interest-bearing
interest expense
interest group
interest rate
interest rate swap
interest rates
interestable
interested
interestedly
interestedness
interester
interesterification
interesterifications
interesterified

Literary usage of Interest

Below you will find example usage of this term as found in modern and/or classical literature:

1. Democracy and Education: An Introduction to the Philosophy of Education by John Dewey (1916)
"The Opposition of Duty and interest. — Probably there is no antithesis more often set up in ... To act according to interest is, so the allegation runs, ..."

2. Democracy in America by Alexis de Tocqueville (1904)
"... OF interest RIGHTLY UNDERSTOOD The Americans combat individualism by the principle of interest rightly understood—The Americans apply the principle of ..."

3. The Republic of Plato by Plato (1888)
"Every art or science has an interest, but 342 this interest is to be ... And justice has an interest which is the interest not of the ruler or judge, ..."

4. An Inquiry Into the Nature and Causes of the Wealth of Nations by Adam Smith, Edward Gibbon Wakefield, Dugald Stewart (1843)
"Of Stock lent at interest. THE stock which is lent at interest is always considered ... He can, in this case, both restore the capital and pay the interest ..."

5. Democracy in America by Alexis de Tocqueville, Henry Reeve (1899)
"CHAPTER VIII The Americans Combat Individualism by the Principle of interest Rightly Understood WHEN the world was managed by a few rich and powerful ..."

6. The Thirty Years' War on Silver: Money Scientifically Treated and Logically by Adolphus Leigh Fitzgerald (1903)
"°rA govern- interest of and regulate the value thereof." It has no power over interest rates; that is a matter beyond its jurisdiction. ..."

7. A Treatise of Human Nature by David Hume (1874)
"It is only a general sense of common interest; which sense all the members of the society express to one another, and which induces them to regulate their ..."

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