entertain

entertain
en|ter|tain [ˌentəˈteın US -tər-] v
[Date: 1400-1500; : Old French; Origin: entretenir 'to hold together, support', from tenir 'to hold']
1.) [I and T]
to amuse or interest people in a way that gives them pleasure
entertain sb with sth
She entertained the children with stories, songs and drama.
A museum should aim to entertain as well as educate.
2.) [I and T]
to invite people to your home for a meal, party etc, or to take your company's customers somewhere to have a meal, drinks etc
Mark usually does the cooking when we entertain.
Do you get an allowance for entertaining clients ?
3.) entertain an idea/hope/thought etc
formal to consider an idea etc, or allow yourself to think that something might happen or be true
She could never entertain the idea of living in the country.

Dictionary of contemporary English. 2013.

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  • Entertain — En ter*tain , v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Entertained}; p. pr. & vb. n. {Entertaining}.] [F. entretenir; entre between (L. inter) + tenir to hold, L. tenere. See {Tenable}.] 1. To be at the charges of; to take or keep in one s service; to maintain; to… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • entertain — [v1] amuse absorb, beguile, captivate, charm, cheer, comfort, crack up*, delight, distract, divert, ecstasize, elate, engross, enliven, enthrall, gladden, grab, gratify, humor, indulge, inspire, inspirit, interest, knock dead*, make merry, occupy …   New thesaurus

  • entertain — [ent΄ər tān′] vt. [ME entretinen < OFr entretenir, to maintain, hold together < entre (L inter), between + tenir < L tenere, to hold: see THIN] 1. Archaic to keep up; maintain 2. to hold the interest of and give pleasure to; divert;… …   English World dictionary

  • Entertain — En ter*tain , v. i. To receive, or provide entertainment for, guests; as, he entertains generously. [1913 Webster] …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Entertain — En ter*tain , n. [Cf. F. entretien, fr. entretenir.] Entertainment. [Obs.] Spenser. [1913 Webster] …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • entertain — index engage (involve), interest, occupy (engage), receive (permit to enter), treat (process) …   Law dictionary

  • entertain — UK US /ˌentəˈteɪn/ verb [I or T] ► to take customers or possible customers out to restaurants, bars, theatres, etc. as a way of encouraging them to do business with you: »Employees can use their expense accounts for entertaining a client …   Financial and business terms

  • entertain — late 15c., to keep up, maintain, to keep (someone) in a certain frame of mind, from M.Fr. entretenir (12c.), from O.Fr. entretenir hold together, stick together, support, from entre among (from L. inter; see INTER (Cf. inter )) + tenir to hold… …   Etymology dictionary

  • entertain — 1 *harbor, shelter, lodge, house, board Analogous words: *receive, admit: cultivate, cherish, foster (see NURSE): *feed, nourish 2 divert, *amuse, recreate Analogous words: * …   New Dictionary of Synonyms

  • entertain — ► VERB 1) provide with amusement or enjoyment. 2) show hospitality to. 3) give attention or consideration to. ORIGIN originally in the sense «maintain, continue»: from French entretenir, from Latin tenere to hold …   English terms dictionary

  • entertain — [[t]e̱ntə(r)te͟ɪn[/t]] ♦♦♦ entertains, entertaining, entertained 1) VERB If a performer, performance, or activity entertains you, it amuses you, interests you, or gives you pleasure. [V n] ...games and ideas to entertain children... [V n] They… …   English dictionary

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