Meaning

• 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%."

• Any excess over and above an exact equivalent

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

  "He has a lot of interest in vintage cars."

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

• 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."

• Something or someone one is interested in.

  "Lexicography is one of my interests."

• Condition or quality of exciting concern or being of importance

• Injury, or compensation for injury; damages.

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

  "the iron interest;  the cotton interest"

Meaning

• 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."

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

• To cause or permit to share.