entertain */*/

entertain */*/
UK [ˌentə(r)ˈteɪn] / US [ˌentərˈteɪn] verb
Word forms "entertain":
present tense I/you/we/they entertain he/she/it entertains present participle entertaining past tense entertained past participle entertained
1)
a) [transitive] to give a performance that people enjoy

The children sang and danced to entertain the crowd.

b) [intransitive/transitive] to receive someone as a guest and give them food and drink or other forms of enjoyment

The Duke loved to entertain when he was staying at Windsor.

The company had incurred $37,000 in expenses entertaining a client.

2) [transitive] formal to consider an idea or feeling and allow it to develop in your mind

If de Gaulle entertained hopes of an alliance, he was to be swiftly disappointed.


English dictionary. 2014.

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Look at other dictionaries:

  • 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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