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in·ter·est 
Audio Help [in-ter-ist, -trist] Pronunciation Key
Audio Help [in-ter-ist, -trist] Pronunciation Key –noun
–verb (used with object)
—Idiom
| 1. | the feeling of a person whose attention, concern, or curiosity is particularly engaged by something: She has a great interest in the poetry of Donne. |
| 2. | something that concerns, involves, draws the attention of, or arouses the curiosity of a person: His interests are philosophy and chess. |
| 3. | power of exciting such concern, involvement, etc.; quality of being interesting: political issues of great interest. |
| 4. | concern; importance: a matter of primary interest. |
| 5. | a business, cause, or the like in which a person has a share, concern, responsibility, etc. |
| 6. | a share, right, or title in the ownership of property, in a commercial or financial undertaking, or the like: He bought half an interest in the store. |
| 7. | a participation in or concern for a cause, advantage, responsibility, etc. |
| 8. | a number or group of persons, or a party, financially interested in the same business, industry, or enterprise: the banking interest. |
| 9. | interests, the group of persons or organizations having extensive financial or business power. |
| 10. | the state of being affected by something in respect to advantage or detriment: We need an arbiter who is without interest in the outcome. |
| 11. | benefit; advantage: to have one's own interest in mind. |
| 12. | regard for one's own advantage or profit; self-interest: The partnership dissolved because of their conflicting interests. |
| 13. | influence from personal importance or capability; power of influencing the action of others. |
| 14. | Finance.
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| 15. | something added or thrown in above an exact equivalent: Jones paid him back with a left hook and added a right uppercut for interest. |
| 16. | to engage or excite the attention or curiosity of: Mystery stories interested him greatly. |
| 17. | to concern (a person, nation, etc.) in something; involve: The fight for peace interests all nations. |
| 18. | to cause to take a personal concern or share; induce to participate: to interest a person in an enterprise. |
| 19. | to cause to be concerned; affect. |
| 20. | in the interest(s) of, to the advantage or advancement of; in behalf of: in the interests of good government. |
| Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1) Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2006. |
Interest
To learn more about Interest visit Britannica.com
| © 2008 Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc. |
| Today's Interest Rates Compare Today's Interest Rates. Plus Calculators, Articles & More! www.Bankrate.com | Sponsored Link |
| in·ter·est
Audio Help (ĭn'trĭst, -tər-ĭst, -trěst') Pronunciation Key
n.
tr.v. in·ter·est·ed, in·ter·est·ing, in·ter·ests
[Middle English, from Old French, from Latin, it is of importance, third person sing. present tense of interesse, to be between, take part in : inter-, inter- + esse, to be; see es- in Indo-European roots.] |
| The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition Copyright © 2006 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved. |
interest
c.1425, earlier interesse (c.1374), from Anglo-Fr. interesse "what one has a legal concern in," from M.L. interesse "compensation for loss," from L. interresse "to concern, make a difference, be of importance," lit. "to be between," from inter- "between" + esse "to be." Form influenced 15c. by O.Fr. interest "damage," from L. interest "it is of importance, it makes a difference," third pers. sing. present of interresse. Financial sense of "money paid for the use of money lent" (1529) earlier was distinguished from usury (illegal under Church law) by being in ref. to "compensation due from a defaulting debtor." Meaning "curiosity" is first attested 1771. Interesting meant "important" (1711); later "of interest" (1768).
| Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper |
| interest | |
noun | |
| 1. | a sense of concern with and curiosity about someone or something; "an interest in music" |
| 2. | a reason for wanting something done; "for your sake"; "died for the sake of his country"; "in the interest of safety"; "in the common interest" [syn: sake] |
| 3. | the power of attracting or holding one's attention (because it is unusual or exciting etc.); "they said nothing of great interest"; "primary colors can add interest to a room" [ant: uninterestingness] |
| 4. | a fixed charge for borrowing money; usually a percentage of the amount borrowed; "how much interest do you pay on your mortgage?" |
| 5. | (law) a right or legal share of something; a financial involvement with something; "they have interests all over the world"; "a stake in the company's future" |
| 6. | (usually plural) a social group whose members control some field of activity and who have common aims; "the iron interests stepped up production" |
| 7. | a diversion that occupies one's time and thoughts (usually pleasantly); "sailing is her favorite pastime"; "his main pastime is gambling"; "he counts reading among his interests"; "they criticized the boy for his limited pursuits" [syn: pastime] |
verb | |
| 1. | excite the curiosity of; engage the interest of [ant: bore] |
| 2. | be on the mind of; "I worry about the second Germanic consonant shift" [syn: concern] |
| 3. | be of importance or consequence; "This matters to me!" [syn: matter to] |
| WordNet® 3.0, © 2006 by Princeton University. |
interest1 [ˈintrəst, (American) ˈintərist] noun
curiosity; attention
Example: That newspaper story is bound to arouse interest.
interest2 [ˈintrəst, (American) ˈintərist] nounExample: That newspaper story is bound to arouse interest.
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a matter, activity etc that is of special concern to one
Example: Gardening is one of my main interests.
interest3 [ˈintrəst, (American) ˈintərist] nounExample: Gardening is one of my main interests.
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money paid in return for borrowing a usually large sum of money
Example: The (rate of) interest on this loan is eight per cent; (also adjective) the interest rate
interest4 [ˈintrəst, (American) ˈintərist] nounExample: The (rate of) interest on this loan is eight per cent; (also adjective) the interest rate
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(a share in the ownership of) a business firm etc
Example: He bought an interest in the night-club.
interest5 [ˈintrəst, (American) ˈintərist] nounExample: He bought an interest in the night-club.
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a group of connected businesses which act together to their own advantage
Example: I suspect that the scheme will be opposed by the banking interest (= all the banks acting together).
interest1 [ˈintrəst, (American) ˈintərist] verbExample: I suspect that the scheme will be opposed by the banking interest (= all the banks acting together).
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to arouse the curiosity and attention of; to be of importance or concern to
Example: Political arguments don't interest me at all.
interest2 [ˈintrəst, (American) ˈintərist] verbExample: Political arguments don't interest me at all.
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(with in) to persuade to do, buy etc
Example: Can I interest you in (buying) this dictionary?
See also: interested, interesting, in one's (own) interest, in the interest(s) of, lose interest, take an interestExample: Can I interest you in (buying) this dictionary?
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| Kernerman English Multilingual Dictionary (Beta Version), © 2000-2006 K Dictionaries Ltd. |
interest
The charge for borrowing money or the return for lending it.
[Chapter:] Business and Economics
| The American Heritage® New Dictionary of Cultural Literacy, Third Edition Copyright © 2005 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved. |
Interest
1. The charge for the privilege of borrowing money, typically expressed as an annual percentage rate.
2. The amount of ownership a stockholder has in a
company, usually expressed as a percentage.
Investopedia Commentary
1. Lenders make money from interest, borrowers pay it.
2. Someone who holds more than
5-10% of the stock in a company is said to hold significant interest.
Related Links
Understanding Credit
Card Interest
Trying To Predict Interest Rates
See also: Accrued Interest, Coupon Bond, Interest Rate, Stock Holder Equity
| Investopedia.com. Copyright © 1999-2005 - All rights reserved. Owned and Operated by Investopedia Inc. |
interest
- Payment for the use of borrowed money.
- An investor's equity in a business.
| Wall Street Words: An A to Z Guide to Investment Terms for Today's Investor by David L. Scott. Copyright © 2003 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. |
Main Entry: in·ter·est
Pronunciation: 'in-tr&st; 'in-t&-r&st, -"rest
Function: noun
Etymology: probably alteration of earlier interesse,
from Anglo-French, from Medieval Latin, from Latin, to be between, make a difference, concern, from inter- between, among + esse to be
1 : a right, title, claim, or
share in property
Article Nine security interest
: SECURITY INTEREST 2 in this entry
beneficial interest
: the right to the use and benefit of property <a beneficial interest in the trust>
contingent interest
: a future interest whose vesting is dependent upon the occurrence or nonoccurrence of a future event —compare VESTED INTEREST in this entry
controlling interest
: sufficient stock ownership in a corporation to exert control over policy
equitable interest
: an interest (as a beneficial interest) that is held by virtue of equitable title or that may be claimed on the ground of equitable relief <claimed an equitable interest in the debtor's assets>
executory interest
: a future interest other than a remainder or reversion that may take effect upon the divesting of a prior interest or one created simultaneously
NOTE: Unlike a remainder, an executory interest does not require the expiration of a prior interest. It was designed to guard against the destructibility of contingent remainders set forth in the rule in Shelley's case.
expectation interest
: the interest of a party to a breached contract in receiving the benefit of the bargain by being put in a position as good as that which would have resulted had the contract been performed called also expectancy interest —compare RELIANCE INTEREST in this entry
future interest
: an interest in property limited or created so that its owner will come into the use, possession, or enjoyment of it at some future time —see also CONTINGENT INTEREST and, EXECUTORY INTEREST in this entry —compare REMAINDER, REVERSION
insurable interest
: an interest or stake in property or in a person that arises from the potential for esp. financial loss upon the destruction of the property or the death of the person and that is a requirement for enforcing an insurance contract
NOTE: The purpose of requiring an insurable interest is to prevent the use of insurance as a form of gambling or as a method of profiting from destruction.
legal interest
: an interest that is recognized in law (as by legal title) —compare EQUITABLE INTEREST in this entry legal title at TITLE
life interest
: an interest lasting for the duration of a person's life that forecloses the ability to affect the property beyond that term —compare life estate at ESTATE 1
possessory interest
: an interest (as a right) involving or arising out of the possession of property
NOTE: A possessory interest is based on control rather than use. Thus a lessee who occupies and controls the use of property has a possessory interest, while a party who has an easement does not.
purchase money security interest
1 : the security interest held by the seller of collateral to secure payment of all or part of the price
2 : the security interest of a person that gives value to a debtor so that the debtor may acquire rights in or the use of collateral
reliance interest
: the interest of a party to a breached contract in being compensated for detriments suffered (as expenses incurred) in reliance on the agreement —compare EXPECTATION INTEREST in this entry
reversionary interest
: an interest in property (as a possibility of reverter or a power of termination) remaining in the transferor of the property or in his or her successor in interest
security interest
1 : an interest in property that exists by contract as security for payment or performance of an obligation <the security interest of a mortgagee in the mortgaged property>; also : LIEN
NOTE: While a lien may be created by statutory or judicial means without any agreement providing for security (as in the case of a tax lien or judgment lien), a security interest and lien may inhere in the same claim, as when a mortgage comprises both a lien on and security interest in the mortgaged property.
2 : an interest in personal property or fixtures created by a security agreement that secures payment or performance of an obligation <the creditor had a security interest in the inventory and accounts receivable of the business> called also Article Nine security interest —see also ATTACH 3, PERFECT b, PURCHASE MONEY SECURITY INTEREST in this entry
NOTE: Security interests in personal property are governed by Article 9 of the Uniform Commercial Code. The security interest set out in Article 9 largely replaces the traditional devices for security, such as the pledge and chattel mortgage. A security interest in property that has attached enables a creditor to obtain satisfaction of a debt out of the property without the need to obtain a judgment in court and levy on the property. Further, it provides the creditor with priority over competing claims against the property.
terminable interest
: an interest (as in a life estate) that will terminate upon the occurrence of an event or the passing of time
vested interest
: a present and certain right to the present or future enjoyment of property —compare CONTINGENT INTEREST in this entry
working interest
: the interest of a party that holds the right to oil, gas, or minerals on a property and that bears production costs —see also OVERRIDING ROYALTY
2 : a specific concern or level of involvement (as financial involvement) esp. that warrants recognition or causes bias <had a right to intervene because of an interest in the litigation> <recused himself due to an interest in the matter> —see also CONFLICT OF INTEREST
3 : something that causes or warrants particular attention: as a : a principle, purpose, or object of concern
compelling state interest
: a governmental interest (as in educating children or protecting the public) which is so important that it outweighs individual rights
public interest
1 a : the general welfare and rights of the public that are to be recognized, protected, and advanced <the attorney general has standing as a representative of the public interest> b : a specific public benefit or stake in something <the public interest in controlling crime>
2 : the concern or attention of the public <a matter of widespread public interest> b : a right esp. that arises from a constitution (as the U.S. Constitution); especially : such a right considered as an issue or claim created in or involving a particular situation or thing <no person will be deprived of his interests in the absence of a proceeding in which he may present his case —Marshall v. Jerrico, Incorporated, 446 U.S. 238 (1980)>
liberty interest
: an interest in freedom from governmental deprivation of liberty esp. without due process <the liberty interest implicated by the needless discouragement of the exercise of the right to counsel —State v. Albert, 899 Pacific Reporter, Second Series 103 (1995) (dissent)>
privacy interest
: an interest in freedom from governmental intrusion into matters in which one has a reasonable expectation of privacy <we have no privacy interest protected by the federal Constitution in limiting public or government access to knowledge of our financial transactions —L. H. Tribe>
property interest
: an interest in freedom from governmental deprivation of property and sources of financial gain (as employment or a government benefit) without due process; broadly : something (as a job or benefit) to which one has a legitimate claim of entitlement and that cannot be taken away without due process as distinguished from the unprotected object of a need, desire, or expectation
4 : the well-being of a perso —often used in pl. <does not serve the child's best interests>
5 : a charge for the use of another's money that is usually a percentage of the money being used <an account yielding 7% interest> <paid back the loan with interest>
com·pound interest
: interest computed on the sum of the original principal and accrued interest
legal interest
: a lawful interest rate and esp. the highest rate allowed <proposals to increase the legal interest on department store credit cards to 15% —American Banker>; also : interest computed at such a rate <awarded the defendant legal interest> —compare USURY
qualified residence interest
: interest that is deductible from adjusted gross income under federal tax law when it is paid on debt that is secured by one's residence and that was incurred for the acquisition, construction, improvement, or refinancing of the residence or through a home equity loan
sim·ple interest
: interest computed on the principal of a loan or account
| Merriam-Webster's Dictionary of Law, © 1996 Merriam-Webster, Inc. |
Interest
Com"pound\, a. [OE. compouned, p. p. of compounen. See Compound, v. t.] Composed of two or more elements, ingredients, parts; produced by the union of several ingredients, parts, or things; composite; as, a compound word. Compound substances are made up of two or more simple substances. --I. Watts. Compound addition, subtraction, multiplication, division (Arith.), the addition, subtraction, etc., of compound numbers. Compound crystal (Crystallog.), a twin crystal, or one seeming to be made up of two or more crystals combined according to regular laws of composition. Compound engine (Mech.), a form of steam engine in which the steam that has been used in a high-pressure cylinder is made to do further service in a larger low-pressure cylinder, sometimes in several larger cylinders, successively. Compound ether. (Chem.) See under Ether. Compound flower (Bot.), a flower head resembling a single flower, but really composed of several florets inclosed in a common calyxlike involucre, as the sunflower or dandelion. Compound fraction. (Math.) See Fraction. Compound fracture. See Fracture. Compound householder, a householder who compounds or arranges with his landlord that his rates shall be included in his rents. [Eng.] Compound interest. See Interest. Compound larceny. (Law) See Larceny. Compound leaf (Bot.), a leaf having two or more separate blades or leaflets on a common leafstalk. Compound microscope. See Microscope. Compound motion. See Motion. Compound number (Math.), one constructed according to a varying scale of denomination; as, 3 cwt., 1 qr., 5 lb.; -- called also denominate number. Compound pier (Arch.), a clustered column. Compound quantity (Alg.), a quantity composed of two or more simple quantities or terms, connected by the sign + (plus) or - (minus). Thus, a + b - c, and bb - b, are compound quantities. Compound radical. (Chem.) See Radical. Compound ratio (Math.), the product of two or more ratios; thus ab:cd is a ratio compounded of the simple ratios a:c and b:d. Compound rest (Mech.), the tool carriage of an engine lathe. Compound screw (Mech.), a screw having on the same axis two or more screws with different pitch (a differential screw), or running in different directions (a right and left screw). Compound time (Mus.), that in which two or more simple measures are combined in one; as, 6-8 time is the joining of two measures of 3-8 time. Compound word, a word composed of two or more words; specifically, two or more words joined together by a hyphen.| Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary, © 1996, 1998 MICRA, Inc. |
Interest
Dis*in"ter*ess\, v. t. [F. d['e]sint['e]resser to deprive of interest in; pref. d['e]s- (L. dis-) + int['e]resser to interest, fr. L. interesse to import, concern. See Interest, and cf. Disinterest.] To deprive or rid of interest in, or regard for; to disengage. [Obs.]| Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary, © 1996, 1998 MICRA, Inc. |
Interest
In"ter*ess\, v. t. [See Interest, v. t.] To interest or affect. [Obs.] --Hooker.| Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary, © 1996, 1998 MICRA, Inc. |
Interest
In"ter*est\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Interested; p. pr. & vb. n. Interesting.] [From interess'd, p. p. of the older form interess, fr. F. int['e]resser, L. interesse. See Interest, n.]1. To engage the attention of; to awaken interest in; to excite emotion or passion in, in behalf of a person or thing; as, the subject did not interest him; to interest one in charitable work. To love our native country . . . to be interested in its concerns is natural to all men. --Dryden. A goddess who used to interest herself in marriages. --Addison. 2. To be concerned with or engaged in; to affect; to concern; to excite; -- often used impersonally. [Obs.] Or rather, gracious sir, Create me to this glory, since my cause Doth interest this fair quarrel. --Ford. 3. To cause or permit to share. [Obs.] The mystical communion of all faithful men is such as maketh every one to be interested in those precious blessings which any one of them receiveth at God's hands. --Hooker. Syn: To concern; excite; attract; entertain; engage; occupy; hold.| Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary, © 1996, 1998 MICRA, Inc. |
Interest
In"ter*est\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Interested; p. pr. & vb. n. Interesting.] [From interess'd, p. p. of the older form interess, fr. F. int['e]resser, L. interesse. See Interest, n.]1. To engage the attention of; to awaken interest in; to excite emotion or passion in, in behalf of a person or thing; as, the subject did not interest him; to interest one in charitable work. To love our native country . . . to be interested in its concerns is natural to all men. --Dryden. A goddess who used to interest herself in marriages. --Addison. 2. To be concerned with or engaged in; to affect; to concern; to excite; -- often used impersonally. [Obs.] Or rather, gracious sir, Create me to this glory, since my cause Doth interest this fair quarrel. --Ford. 3. To cause or permit to share. [Obs.] The mystical communion of all faithful men is such as maketh every one to be interested in those precious blessings which any one of them receiveth at God's hands. --Hooker. Syn: To concern; excite; attract; entertain; engage; occupy; hold.| Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary, © 1996, 1998 MICRA, Inc. |
Interest
In"ter*est\, n. [OF. interest, F. int['e]r[^e]t, fr. L. interest it interests, is of interest, fr. interesse to be between, to be difference, to be importance; inter between + esse to be; cf. LL. interesse usury. See Essence.]1. Excitement of feeling, whether pleasant or painful, accompanying special attention to some object; concern. Note: Interest expresses mental excitement of various kinds and degrees. It may be intellectual, or sympathetic and emotional, or merely personal; as, an interest in philosophical research; an interest in human suffering; the interest which an avaricious man takes in money getting. So much interest have I in thy sorrow. --Shak. 2. Participation in advantage, profit, and responsibility; share; portion; part; as, an interest in a brewery; he has parted with his interest in the stocks. 3. Advantage, personal or general; good, regarded as a selfish benefit; profit; benefit. Divisions hinder the common interest and public good. --Sir W. Temple. When interest calls of all her sneaking train. --Pope. 4. Premium paid for the use of money, -- usually reckoned as a percentage; as, interest at five per cent per annum on ten thousand dollars. They have told their money, and let out Their coin upon large interest. --Shak. 5. Any excess of advantage over and above an exact equivalent for what is given or rendered. You shall have your desires with interest. --Shak. 6. The persons interested in any particular business or measure, taken collectively; as, the iron interest; the cotton interest. Compound interest, interest, not only on the original principal, but also on unpaid interest from the time it fell due. Simple interest, interest on the principal sum without interest on overdue interest.| Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary, © 1996, 1998 MICRA, Inc. |
Interest
In"ter*est*ed\, a. [See Interest, v. t.]1. Having the attention engaged; having emotion or passion excited; as, an interested listener. 2. Having an interest; concerned in a cause or in consequences; liable to be affected or prejudiced; as, an interested witness.| Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary, © 1996, 1998 MICRA, Inc. |
Interest
Sim"ple\, a. [Compar. Simpler; superl. Simplest.] [F., fr. L. simplus, or simplex, gen. simplicis. The first part of the Latin words is probably akin to E. same, and the sense, one, one and the same; cf. L. semel once, singuli one to each, single. Cg. Single, a., Same, a., and for the last part of the word cf. Double, Complex.]1. Single; not complex; not infolded or entangled; uncombined; not compounded; not blended with something else; not complicated; as, a simple substance; a simple idea; a simple sound; a simple machine; a simple problem; simple tasks. 2. Plain; unadorned; as, simple dress. "Simple truth." --Spenser. "His simple story." --Burns. 3. Mere; not other than; being only. A medicine . . . whose simple touch Is powerful to araise King Pepin. --Shak. 4. Not given to artifice, stratagem, or duplicity; undesigning; sincere; true. Full many fine men go upon my score, as simple as I stand here, and I trust them. --Marston. Must thou trust Tradition's simple tongue? --Byron. To be simple is to be great. --Emerson. 5. Artless in manner; unaffected; unconstrained; natural; inartificial;; straightforward. In simple manners all the secret lies. --Young. 6. Direct; clear; intelligible; not abstruse or enigmatical; as, a simple statement; simple language. 7. Weak in intellect; not wise or sagacious; of but moderate understanding or attainments; hence, foolish; silly. "You have simple wits." --Shak. The simple believeth every word; but the prudent man looketh well to his going. --Prov. xiv. 15. 8. Not luxurious; without much variety; plain; as, a simple diet; a simple way of living. Thy simple fare and all thy plain delights. --Cowper. 9. Humble; lowly; undistinguished. A simple husbandman in garments gray. --Spenser. Clergy and laity, male and female, gentle and simple made the fuel of the same fire. --Fuller. 10. (BOt.) Without subdivisions; entire; as, a simple stem; a simple leaf. 11. (Chem.) Not capable of being decomposed into anything more simple or ultimate by any means at present known; elementary; thus, atoms are regarded as simple bodies. Cf. Ultimate, a. Note: A simple body is one that has not as yet been decomposed. There are indications that many of our simple elements are still compound bodies, though their actual decomposition into anything simpler may never be accomplished. 12. (Min.) Homogenous. 13. (Zo["o]l.) Consisting of a single individual or zooid; as, a simple ascidian; -- opposed to compound. Simple contract (Law), any contract, whether verbal or written, which is not of record or under seal. --J. W. Smith. --Chitty. Simple equation (Alg.), an eqyation containing but one unknown quantity, and that quantity only in the first degree. Simple eye (Zo["o]l.), an eye having a single lens; -- opposed to compound eye. Simple interest. See under Interest. Simple larceny. (Law) See under Larceny. Simple obligation (Rom. Law), an obligation which does not depend for its execution upon any event provided for by the parties, or is not to become void on the happening of any such event. --Burrill. Syn: Single; uncompounded; unmingled; unmixed; mere; uncombined; elementary; plain; artless; sincere; harmless; undesigning; frank; open; unaffected; inartificial; unadorned; credulous; silly; foolish; shallow; unwise. Usage: Simple, Silly. One who is simple is sincere, unaffected, and inexperienced in duplicity, -- hence liable to be duped. A silly person is one who is ignorant or weak and also self-confident; hence, one who shows in speech and act a lack of good sense. Simplicity is incompatible with duplicity, artfulness, or vanity, while silliness is consistent with all three. Simplicity denotes lack of knowledge or of guile; silliness denotes want of judgment or right purpose, a defect of character as well as of education. I am a simple woman, much too weak To oppose your cunning. --Shak. He is the companion of the silliest people in their most silly pleasure; he is ready for every impertinent entertainment and diversion. --Law.| Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary, © 1996, 1998 MICRA, Inc. |
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