interest
n
1 the sense of curiosity about or concern with something or someone
an interest in butterflies
2 the power of stimulating such a sense
to have great interest
3 the quality of such stimulation
4 something in which one is interested; a hobby or pursuit
5 often pl benefit; advantage
in one's own interest
a a right, share, or claim, esp. in a business or property
b the business, property, etc., in which a person has such concern
a a charge for the use of credit or borrowed money
b such a charge expressed as a percentage per time unit of the sum borrowed or used
8 often pl a section of a community, etc., whose members have common aims
we must not offend the landed interest
9 ♦
declare an interest to make known one's connection, esp. a prejudicial connection, with an affair
vb tr
10 to arouse or excite the curiosity or concern of
11 to cause to become involved in something; concern (C15: from Latin: it concerns, from interesse; from inter- + esse to be)
compound interest
n interest calculated on both the principal and its accrued interest
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simple interest
controlling interest
n a quantity of shares in a business that is sufficient to ensure control over its direction
human interest
n (in a newspaper story, news broadcasting, etc.) reference to individuals and their emotions
insurable interest
n (Law) a financial or other interest in the life or property covered by an insurance contract, without which the contract cannot be enforced
interest-rate futures
pl n financial futures based on projected movements of interest rates
life interest
n interest (esp. from property) that is payable to a person during his life but ceases with his death
self-interest
n
1 one's personal interest or advantage
2 the act or an instance of pursuing one's own interest
♦
self-interested adj
♦
self-interestedness n
simple interest
n interest calculated or paid on the principal alone
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compound interest
unity of interest
n (Property law) the equal interest in property held by joint tenants
vested interest
n
1 (Property law) an existing and disposable right to the immediate or future possession and enjoyment of property
2 a strong personal concern in a state of affairs, system, etc., usually resulting in private gain
3 a person or group that has such an interest