Definition of "interest" in English

noun

1. (uncountable, finance) 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%.

2. (uncountable, finance) Any excess over and above an exact equivalent

3. (uncountable) A great attention and concern from someone or something; intellectual curiosity.

   • He has a lot of interest in vintage cars.
   • I have a lot of interest in doing online coding.

4. (uncountable) Attention that is given to or received from someone or something.

5. (countable) An involvement, claim, right, share, stake in or link with a financial, business, or other undertaking or endeavor.

   • When scientists and doctors write articles and when politicians run for office, they are required in many countries to declare any existing conflicts of interest (competing interests).
   • I have business interests in South Africa.
   • She has an interest in the proceedings, and all stakeholders' interests must be protected.

6. (countable) Something which, or someone whom, one is interested in.

   • Lexicography is one of my interests.
   • Victorian furniture is an interest of mine.
   • The main character's romantic interest will be played by a non-professional actor.

7. (uncountable) Condition or quality of exciting concern or being of importance.

8. (obsolete, rare) Injury, or compensation for injury; damages.

9. (often in the plural) The persons and companies interested in any particular business or measure, taken collectively.

   • the iron interest;  the cotton interest

10. (historical, usually attributive) A genre of factual short films, generally more amusing than informative, especially those not covered by a more specific genre label.

    • By interest films is meant a variety of subjects which cannot be classified under such recognized headings as fiction, travel, or topical. They include wonderful inventions, little known industries, applied art, feats of engineering, and other events capable of effective illustration.
    • At the top of Charing Cross Road is the "Tatler," which has specialised for a long time in a general sort of program, built up of about 15 minutes of news, a cartoon (sometimes two), an interest picture, occasionally a comedy, and nearly always a documentary.

verb

1. To engage the attention of; to awaken interest in; to excite emotion or passion in, in behalf of a person or thing.