n. 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"

n. 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"

n. 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"

n. a sense of concern with and curiosity about someone or something; "an interest in music"

n. (usually plural) a social group whose members control some field of activity and who have common aims; "the iron interests stepped up production"

n. (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"

n. (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"

n. a fixed charge for borrowing money; usually a percentage of the amount borrowed; "how much interest do you pay on your mortgage?"

n. [feeling or showing care and compassion]

v. excite the curiosity of; engage the interest of

v. be on the mind of; "I worry about the second Germanic consonant shift"

v. be of importance or consequence; "This matters to me!"