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interest

 - 8 dictionary results

in·ter·est

   [in-ter-ist, -trist]
–noun
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.
a.
a sum paid or charged for the use of money or for borrowing money.
b.
such a sum expressed as a percentage of money borrowed to be paid over a given period, usually one year.
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.
–verb (used with object)
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.
—Idiom
20.
in the interest(s) of, to the advantage or advancement of; in behalf of: in the interests of good government.
Use interest in a Sentence
Origin:
1225–75; (n.) ME < ML, L: it concerns, lit., it is between; r. interesse < ML, L: to concern, lit., to be between; (v.) earlier interess as v. use of the n.; see inter-, esse

—Related forms
o·ver·in·ter·est, noun
pre·in·ter·est, noun, verb
re·in·ter·est, noun, verb (used with object)
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2010.
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Word Origin & History

interest
early 15c., earlier interesse (late 14c.), 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.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
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in·ter·est   (ĭn'trĭst, -tər-ĭst, -trěst')   
n.  

    1. A state of curiosity or concern about or attention to something: an interest in sports.

    2. Something, such as a quality, subject, or activity, that evokes this mental state: counts the theater among his interests.

    3. A right, claim, or legal share: an interest in the new company.

    4. Something in which such a right, claim, or share is held: has interests overseas.

    5. A person or group of persons holding such a right, claim, or share: a petroleum interest.

    6. A charge for a loan, usually a percentage of the amount loaned.

    7. An excess or bonus beyond what is expected or due.

    8. An interest group.

    9. The particular cause supported by an interest group.

  2. Regard for one's own benefit or advantage; self-interest. Often used in the plural: It is in your best interest to cooperate. She kept her own interests in mind.

    1. A right, claim, or legal share: an interest in the new company.

    2. Something in which such a right, claim, or share is held: has interests overseas.

    3. A person or group of persons holding such a right, claim, or share: a petroleum interest.

    4. A charge for a loan, usually a percentage of the amount loaned.

    5. An excess or bonus beyond what is expected or due.

    6. An interest group.

    7. The particular cause supported by an interest group.

  4. Involvement with or participation in something: She has an interest in the quality of her education.

    1. A charge for a loan, usually a percentage of the amount loaned.

    2. An excess or bonus beyond what is expected or due.

    3. An interest group.

    4. The particular cause supported by an interest group.

    1. An interest group.

    2. The particular cause supported by an interest group.

tr.v.   in·ter·est·ed, in·ter·est·ing, in·ter·ests

  1. To arouse the curiosity or hold the attention of: Your opinions interest me.

  2. To cause to become involved or concerned with: tried to interest her in taking a walk.

  3. Obsolete To concern or affect.


[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 © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
Cite This Source
Legal Dictionary

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 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 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 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 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 interest in the litigation> 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 public interest> b : a specific public benefit or stake in something public interest in controlling crime>
2 : the concern or attention of the public 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 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 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 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. interests>
5 : a charge for the use of another's money that is usually a percentage of the money being used interest> 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 legal interest on department store credit cards to 15% —American Banker>; also : interest computed at such a rate 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.
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Financial Dictionary

interest

  1. Payment for the use of borrowed money.

  2. An investor's equity in a business.


Wall Street Words: An A to Z Guide to Investment Terms by David L. Scott.
Copyright © 2003. Published by Houghton Mifflin.
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Cultural Dictionary

interest

The charge for borrowing money or the return for lending it.

The American Heritage® New Dictionary of Cultural Literacy, Third Edition
Copyright © 2005 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
Cite This Source
Financial Dictionary

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.
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Idioms & Phrases

interest

see in one's interest; take an interest; vested interest; with interest.

The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer.
Copyright © 1997. Published by Houghton Mifflin.
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