interest

¹in·ter·est

noun \ˈin-t(ə-)rəst; ˈin-tə-ˌrest, -ˌtrest; ˈin-tərst\

Definition of INTEREST

1

a (1) : right, title, or legal share in something (2) : participation in advantage and responsibility

b : business, company

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

: special interest

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

Examples of INTEREST

1. She told us about her lifelong interest in music.
2. The kids listened to the speaker for a little while, but then lost interest.
3. The speaker wasn't able to hold their interest.
4. She took an active interest in the political debate.
5. He expressed an interest in learning more about photography.
6. The stories about his personal life add interest to the book.
7. I thought this article might be of interest to you.
8. We visited many places of interest on our vacation.
9. The price of the ticket was a matter of interest to everyone.
10. Music is one of her many interests.

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

First Known Use: 15th century

Related to INTEREST

Synonyms

claim, share, stake

Antonyms

ill-being

Related Words

co-ownership, ownership, part, partnership, possession, title

Near Antonyms

unhealthiness, unsoundness; misery, sadness, suffering, unhappiness, wretchedness

Other Business Terms

amortize, caveat emptor, clearinghouse, divest, due diligence, emolument, green-collar, marque, overhead, perquisite

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

transitive verb

Definition of INTEREST

1

: to induce or persuade to participate or engage

2

: to engage the attention or arouse the interest of

Examples of INTEREST

1. Military history doesn't really interest me.
2. It might interest you to know that the woman in this photograph is your great-grandmother.
3. It interested me to learn that she had once lived in California.
4. The salesman tried to interest me in a more expensive computer.

First Known Use of INTEREST

1608

Related to INTEREST

Synonyms

absorb, bemuse, busy, catch up, engross, enthrall (or enthral), enwrap, fascinate, grip, immerse, engage, intrigue, involve, occupy

Related Words

allure, attract, beguile, bewitch, captivate, charm, enchant, obsess; hypnotize, mesmerize; distract, preoccupy; hog, monopolize

Near Antonyms

bore, jade, pall, tire, weary

interest

noun    (Concise Encyclopedia)

Price paid for the use of credit or money. It is usually figured as a percentage of the money borrowed and is computed annually. Interest is charged by the lender as payment for the loss of his or her money for a period of time. The interest rate reflects the risk of lending and is higher for loans that are considered higher-risk, a relationship known as the risk/return tradeoff. Like the prices of goods and services, interest rates are responsive to supply and demand. Theories explaining the need for interest include the time-preference theory, according to which interest is the inducement to engage in time-consuming but more productive activities, and the liquidity-preference theory of John Maynard Keynes, according to which interest is the inducement to sacrifice a desired degree of liquidity for a nonliquid contractual obligation. Interest rates may also be used as a tool for implementing monetary policy (see discount rate). High interest rates may dampen the economy by making it difficult for consumers, businesses, and home buyers to secure loans, while lower rates tend to stimulate the economy and encourage both investment and consumption.