interest

Meanings

1. 1
   noun

   the power of attracting or holding one's attention (because it is unusual or exciting etc.)

   they said nothing of great interest

2. 2
   noun

   a sense of concern with and curiosity about someone or something

   an interest in music

3. 3
   noun

   a social group whose members control some field of activity and who have common aims

   The iron interests stepped up production.

4. 4
   verb

   excite the curiosity of

   engage the interest of

5. 5
   noun

   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.

   Our bank offers borrowers an annual interest of 5%.

6. 6
   noun

   Any excess over and above an exact equivalent

   You shall have your desires with interest

7. 7
   noun

   A great attention and concern from someone or something; intellectual curiosity.

   He has a lot of interest in vintage cars.

8. 8
   noun

   Attention that is given to or received from someone or something.

   […] St. Bede's at this period of its history was perhaps the poorest and most miserable parish in the East End of London. Close-packed, crushed by the buttressed height of the railway viaduct, rendered airless by huge walls of factories, it at once banished lively interest from a stranger's mind and left only a dull oppression of the spirit.

Etymology

From Middle English interest, from Old French interesse and interest (French intérêt), from Medieval Latin interesse, from Latin interesse.