interest Definition

interest
noun

1. The desire to learn or know about someone or something; curiosity.

Thesaurus: concern, care, attention, curiosity, excitement.
2. The power to attract attention and curiosity.
3. Something which arouses attention and curiosity; a hobby or pastime.
4. Money paid as a charge for borrowing money or using credit, usually in the form of a percentage of what is borrowed or owed.
5. Advantage, benefit or profit, especially financial.

Example: It is in your own interests to be truthful
Thesaurus: premium, credit, due, discount, profit, percentage, gain, bonus, earnings.
Form: interests (often)
6. A share or claim in a business and its profits, or a legal right to property.
7. A group of people or organizations with common, especially financial, aims and concerns.

Example: the banking interest
Thesaurus: lobby, constituency.
Form: interest group (also)

verb interested, interesting

1. To attract the attention and curiosity of someone.

Thesaurus: involve, engage, attract, intrigue, concern, fascinate, move, touch, affect.
2. To cause them to take a part in or be concerned about some activity.

Form: interest someone in something (often)

Idiom: in the interest of something (in the interests of something)

In order to achieve or contribute to an objective.
Example: in the interests of good industrial relations
Thesaurus: for the sake of, on behalf of, in order to promote.

Etymology: 15c: from Latin interest it concerns.