interest
n
1 the sense of curiosity about or concern with something or someone
an interest in butterflies
2 the power of stimulating such a sense
to have great interest
3 the quality of such stimulation
4 something in which one is interested; a hobby or pursuit
5 often pl benefit; advantage
in one's own interest
a a right, share, or claim, esp. in a business or property
b the business, property, etc., in which a person has such concern
a a charge for the use of credit or borrowed money
b such a charge expressed as a percentage per time unit of the sum borrowed or used
8 often pl a section of a community, etc., whose members have common aims
we must not offend the landed interest
9 ♦
declare an interest to make known one's connection, esp. a prejudicial connection, with an affair
vb tr
10 to arouse or excite the curiosity or concern of
11 to cause to become involved in something; concern
(C15: from Latin: it concerns, from interesse; from inter- + esse to be)