8 N‑COUNT If a person, country, or organization has an interest in a possible event or situation, they want that event or situation to happen because they are likely to benefit from it. □ [+ in ] The West has an interest in promoting democratic forces in Eastern Europe.
9 N‑UNCOUNT [oft N n] Interest is extra money that you receive if you have invested a sum of money. Interest is also the extra money that you pay if you have borrowed money or are buying something on credit. □ Does your current account pay interest?
10 → see also compound interest , interested , interesting , self-interest , vested interest
11 PHRASE If you do something in the interests of a particular result or situation, you do it in order to achieve that result or maintain that situation. □ …a call for all businessmen to work together in the interests of national stability.
12 to have someone's interests at heart → see heart COLLOCATIONS interest NOUN
1
adjective + interest : keen
verb + interest : express, show, take; arouse, attract; lose
5
verb + interest : defend, protect, safeguard
in|ter|est|ed ◆◆◇ / I ntrest I d, -tərest I d/
1 ADJ [usu v-link ADJ , ADJ to-inf] If you are interested in something, you think it is important and want to learn more about it or spend time doing it. □ [+ in ] I thought she might be interested in Paula's proposal. □ I'd be interested to meet her.
2 ADJ [ADJ n] An interested party or group of people is affected by or involved in a particular event or situation. □ All the interested parties eventually agreed to the idea.
3 → see also self-interested SYNONYMS interested ADJ 1
curious: Children are naturally curious.
fascinated: A new generation of scientists became fascinated by dinosaurs.
keen: I wasn't too keen on physics and chemistry.
gripped: The nation is gripped by the dramatic story.
intent: Rodney had been intent on every word.
i nterest-free ADJ [usu ADJ n] An interest-free loan has no interest charged on it. □ He was offered a £10,000 interest-free loan. ● ADV [ADV after v] Interest-free is also an adverb. □ Customers allowed the banks to use their money interest-free.
in|ter|est|ing ◆◇◇ / I ntrest I ŋ, -tərest I ŋ/ ADJ If you find something interesting , it attracts your attention, for example because you think it is exciting or unusual. □ It was interesting to be in a different environment. □ His third album is by far his most interesting. SYNONYMS interesting ADJ
absorbing: Children will find other exhibits equally absorbing.
fascinating: Madagascar is the most fascinating place I have ever been to.
compelling: …a frighteningly violent yet compelling film.
gripping: The film turned out to be a gripping thriller.
curious: There is a curious thing about her writings in this period.
intriguing: This intriguing book is both thoughtful and informative.
in|ter|est|ing|ly / I ntrest I ŋli, -tərest I ŋli/ ADV You use interestingly to introduce a piece of information that you think is interesting or unexpected. □ Interestingly enough, a few weeks later, Benjamin remarried.
i n|ter|est rate (interest rates ) N‑COUNT The interest rate is the amount of interest that must be paid. It is expressed as a percentage of the amount that is borrowed or gained as profit. □ The Finance Minister has renewed his call for lower interest rates.
inter|face / I ntə r fe I s/ (interfaces , interfacing , interfaced )
1 N‑COUNT The interface between two subjects or systems is the area in which they affect each other or have links with each other. □ [+ between ] …a witty exploration of that interface between bureaucracy and the working world.
2 N‑COUNT [usu n N ] If you refer to the user interface of a particular piece of computing software, you are talking about its presentation on screen and how easy it is to operate. [COMPUTING ] □ …the development of better user interfaces.
3 N‑COUNT In computing and electronics, an interface is an electrical circuit which links one machine, especially a computer, with another. [TECHNICAL ]
4 VERB If one thing interfaces with another, or if two things interface , they have connections with each other. If you interface one thing with another, you connect the two things. [TECHNICAL , FORMAL ] □ [V + with ] …the way we interface with the environment. □ [V ] The different components all have to interface smoothly. □ [V n + with ] He had interfaced all this machinery with a master computer. [Also V n]
inter|fere / I ntə r f I ə r / (interferes , interfering , interfered )
1 VERB If you say that someone interferes in a situation, you mean they get involved in it although it does not concern them and their involvement is not wanted. [DISAPPROVAL ] □ [V ] I wish everyone would stop interfering and just leave me alone. □ [V + in/with ] The U.N. cannot interfere in the internal affairs of any country.
2 VERB Something that interferes with a situation, activity, or process has a damaging effect on it. □ [V + with ] Smoking and drinking interfere with your body's ability to process oxygen.