interest

/ˈɪntəɹst/

IPA: /IH1 N T R AH0 S T/

noun
  1. 1

    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. 2

    Any excess over and above an exact equivalent

  3. 3

    A great attention and concern from someone or something; intellectual curiosity.

    He has a lot of interest in vintage cars.

  4. 4

    Attention that is given to or received from someone or something.

  5. 5

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

    I have business interests in South Africa.

  6. 6

    Something or someone one is interested in.

    Lexicography is one of my interests.

  7. 7

    Condition or quality of exciting concern or being of importance

  8. 8

    Injury, or compensation for injury; damages.

  9. 9

    (usually in the plural) The persons interested in any particular business or measure, taken collectively.

    the iron interest;  the cotton interest

verb
  1. 1

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

    Action films don't really interest me.

  2. 2

    To be concerned with or engaged in; to affect; to concern; to excite.

  3. 3

    To cause or permit to share.

Source: https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/interest