entertain - WordReference.com Dictionary of English

entertain

UK:*UK and possibly other pronunciationsUK and possibly other pronunciations/ˌɛntərˈteɪn/US:USA pronunciation: IPA and respellingUSA pronunciation: IPA/ˌɛntɚˈteɪn/ ,USA pronunciation: respelling(en′tər tān′)


WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2023
en•ter•tain /ˌɛntɚˈteɪn/USA pronunciation   v. 
  1. to hold the attention of (someone) pleasantly or agreeably;
    amuse;
    divert: [~ + object]The film entertained us most of the afternoon.[no object]computer games that entertain as well as educate.
  2. to show hospitality to: [~ + object]entertaining my parents for the weekend.[no object]We entertain on weekends.
  3. to admit into or hold in the mind;
    consider:[~ + object]to entertain an idea.
See -tain-.
WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2023
en•ter•tain  (en′tər tān′),USA pronunciation v.t. 
  1. to hold the attention of pleasantly or agreeably;
    divert;
    amuse.
  2. to have as a guest;
    provide food, lodging, etc., for;
    show hospitality to.
  3. to admit into the mind;
    consider:He never entertained such ideas.
  4. to hold in the mind;
    harbor;
    cherish:They secretly entertained thoughts of revenge.
  5. [Archaic.]to maintain or keep up.
  6. [Obs.]to give admittance or reception to;
    receive.

v.i. 
  1. to exercise hospitality;
    entertain company;
    provide entertainment for guests:They loved to talk, dance, and entertain.
  • Middle French entretenir Vulgar Latin *intertenēre, equivalent. to Latin inter- inter- + tenēre to hold
  • late Middle English entertenen to hold mutually 1425–75
    • 1.See corresponding entry in Unabridged beguile, regale. See amuse. 
    • 1.See corresponding entry in Unabridged bore.
    • 3.See corresponding entry in Unabridged reject.
Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::
entertain /ˌɛntəˈteɪn/ vb
  1. to provide amusement for (a person or audience)
  2. to show hospitality to (guests)
  3. (transitive) to hold in the mind: to entertain an idea
Etymology: 15th Century: from Old French entretenir, from entre- mutually + tenir to hold, from Latin tenēre
'entertain' also found in these entries (note: many are not synonyms or translations):
Arabian Nights' Entertainments, The - Muzak - amuse - banquet - barbecue - beguile - brown - busk - chintzy - cyberpet - dine - distract - divert - educate - entertainer - entertaining - entertainment - feast - fete - fiction - fête - griot - guest - harbor - have - home entertainment - hospitality suite - impersonate - invite - junket - light verse - magic - nonentertaining - nonentertainment - open - open house - party girl - patter - perform - pester - preentertain - preentertainer - preentertainment - proud - receive - regale - rush - serenade - sup - table
Collocations: entertain guests, ways to entertain your [children, kids], entertained the [audience, spectators], more...

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