interest

advantage, benefit, interest, favour, profit, gain

这些名词均有“利益、好处”之意。
advantage: 指因某方面占优势或利用某机会以及对方弱点而获得利益与好处。
benefit: 普通用词，指通过正当手段从物质或精神方面得到的任何好处或利益。
interest: 作“利益”解时，多用复数形式，既可指集团、群体的利益，又可指个人的利益。
favour: 指在竞争中获得的advantage,也可指狭隘的个人利益。
profit: 着重收益，尤指从物质、钱财等方面获得的利益。
gain: 指获得的物质利益，也暗示不损坏他人利益而得的无形好处。

amuse, entertain, interest, please

这些动词均含有“使人娱乐，消遣”之意。
amuse: 指使人通过注意某些有趣或悦人的事物而消遣，着重使人愉快的效果。
entertain: 指通过给他人快乐感的消遣活动，使自己或他人从单调中解脱出来。
interest: 普通用词，指出于任何原因使人兴奋或对某事物保持好奇心或注意力，侧重引起兴趣或注意。
please: 多指愿望、兴趣得到满足后产生的强烈满意情绪。

名词 interest:

1. a sense of concern with and curiosity about someone or something
   同义词：involvement
2. the power of attracting or holding one's attention (because it is unusual or exciting etc.)
   同义词：interestingness
3. a reason for wanting something done
   同义词：sake
4. a fixed charge for borrowing money; usually a percentage of the amount borrowed
5. a diversion that occupies one's time and thoughts (usually pleasantly)
   同义词：pastime, pursuit
6. (law) a right or legal share of something; a financial involvement with something
   同义词：stake
7. (usually plural) a social group whose members control some field of activity and who have common aims
   同义词：interest group

动词 interest:

1. excite the curiosity of; engage the interest of
2. be on the mind of
   同义词：concern, occupy, worry
3. be of importance or consequence
   同义词：matter to

1. The subject may be full of interest to you, but it holds no interest for me.
   这个问题即使你兴味盎然，我也是兴味索然。
2. The lawyer invited the interested parties to discuss the problem.
   律师邀请有关的当事人一起商讨问题。
3. I am very interested in local history.
   我很想了解本地的历史。
4. They supported Japan's taking over of all the former German interests in Shandong Province.
   他们支持日本接管德国以前在山东省的所有权益。
5. Politics has always interested me.
   我一直对政治学有兴趣。
6. His two great interests in life are music and painting.
   音乐和绘画是他生活中的两大嗜好。

in.ter.est

n.Abbr. i.,int.（名词）缩写 i.,int.

A state of curiosity or concern about or attention to something:
兴趣，好奇心：对某事的好奇、关心或注意：
例句：
an interest in sports.
对体育的兴趣

Something, such as a quality, a subject, or an activity, that evokes this mental state:
趣味：令人感觉兴趣的性质、事物或活动：
例句：
counts the theater among his interests.
看戏算是他的爱好之一

Often interests Regard for one`s own benefit or advantage; self-interest:
常作 interests 利益：对自身的好处或利益的考虑；私利：
例句：
It is in your best interest to cooperate. She kept her own interests in mind.
合作对你最有利。她心存私欲

A right, claim, or legal share:
权益，利润：权利、质权或股权：
例句：
an interest in the new company.
这家新公司的利润

Something in which such a right, claim, or share is held:
权益、债权或股权的证明：
例句：
has interests overseas.
有海外产权

A person or group of persons holding such a right, claim, or share:
持有此种权益、债权或股权的人或集团：
例句：
a petroleum interest.
石油业者

Involvement with or participation in something:
卷入和加入某事：
例句：
She has an interest in the quality of her education.
她重视她的教育品质

A charge for a loan, usually a percentage of the amount loaned.
利息：使用贷款的费用，通常以贷款数量的百分比计息
An excess or a bonus beyond what is expected or due.
附加物，红利：超出或超过预期或应付的红利

An interest group.
利益集团
The particular cause supported by an interest group.
由某利益集团支持的特殊事业
v.tr.（及物动词）
in.ter.est.ed,in.ter.est.ing,in.ter.ests
To arouse the curiosity or hold the attention of:
引起兴趣或引起关注：
例句：
Your opinions interest me.
你的观点引起了我的兴趣

To cause to become involved or concerned with:
使加入，使投入：
例句：
tried to interest her in taking a walk.
试图让她一起去散步

Obsolete To concern or affect.
【废语】 关注或影响

<习惯用语>in the interest of 或
in the interests of
To the advantage of; for the sake of:
为了…的利益；为了…的缘故：
例句：
thinking in the interest of the whole family; ate breakfast on the train in the interest of time.
为了整个家着想；为了节省时间而在火车上吃早餐

来源：
Middle English
中古英语
from Old French
源自 古法语
from Latin [it is of importance] [3rd person sing. present tense of] interesse [to be between, take part in]
源自 拉丁语 [它是主要的] [] interesse的第三人称单数现在时 [在…之间参加]
inter- [inter-]
inter- [在…之间]
esse [to be] * see es-
esse [是动词] *参见 es-