Collins English-English Dictionary

interest ['ɪntrɪst]

1. 1. n the sense of curiosity about or concern with something or someone

   an interest in butterflies

2. 2. n the power of stimulating such a sense

   to have great interest

3. 3. n the quality of such stimulation

4. 4. n something in which one is interested; a hobby or pursuit

5. 5. n [often plural] benefit; advantage

   in one's own interest

6. 6. n [often plural] a right, share, or claim, esp in a business or property

7. 7. n the business, property, etc, in which a person has such concern

8. 8. n a charge for the use of credit or borrowed money

9. 9. n such a charge expressed as a percentage per time unit of the sum borrowed or used

10. 10. n [often plural] a section of a community, etc, whose members have common aims

    we must not offend the landed interest

11. 11. vt. [tr] to arouse or excite the curiosity or concern of

12. 12. vt. to cause to become involved in something; concern

13. 13. vt. [Etymology] C15: from Latin: it concerns, from interesse; from inter- + esse to be