entertain
verbnouncommon in dialogue
- United Kingdom//ˌɛntəˈteɪn//
- Canada//ˌɛntɚˈteɪn//
- Canada/[ˌɛ̃ɾ̃ɚˈtʰeɪn]/
- Australia//ˌentəˈtæɪn//
To amuse (someone); to engage the attention of agreeably.
verb
- 1
To amuse (someone); to engage the attention of agreeably.
to entertain friends with lively conversation
The motivational speaker not only instructed but also entertained the audience.
- 2
To have someone over at one's home, or some other venue, for a party or visit.
They enjoy entertaining a lot.
Be not forgetful to entertain strangers[…]
About 200 guests were invited and entertained to lunch in the so-called booking hall at Waterloo; the contractors, Spiers & Pond Limited, were much praised for organising the repast, with attendant cloak room facilities, so well in such unfavourable surroundings.
- 3
To receive and take into consideration; to have a thought in mind.
The committee would like to entertain the idea of reducing the budget figures.
to entertain a proposal
I am not here going to entertain so large a theme as the philosophy of Locke.
A rumour gained ground, — and, however absurd, was entertained by some very sensible people.
- 4
obsoleteTo take or keep in one's service; to maintain; to support; to harbour; to keep.
Intreat 'em fair, and give them friendly speech, And seem to them as if thy sins were great, Till thou hast gotten to be entertain'd.
You, sir, I entertain for one of my hundred.
- 5
obsoleteTo meet or encounter, as an enemy.
O noble English, that could entertain with half their forces the full pride of France
Penalty for entertaining a Deserter
- 6
obsoleteTo lead on; to bring along; to introduce.
to baptize all nations, and to entertain them into the services and institutions of the holy Jesus
- 7
To help; to assist; to answer a phone call.
Etymology
From Middle English entertenen, from Middle French entretenir, from Old French entretenir, from entre (“among”) + tenir (“to hold”), from Latin inter + teneō (“hold, keep”). For the noun, compare French entretien. Sense of answering a phone call in Malaysian English is influenced by Malay layan “to serve, to attend to or engage with something”.
noun
- 1
obsoleteEntertainment; pleasure.
And Celſo, prethee let it be thy care to night / To haue ſome pretty ſhew, to ſolemnize / Our high inſtalement, ſome muſike maſkerie: / Weele giue faire entertaine vnto Maria […]
- 2
obsoleteReception of a guest; welcome.
But neede, that answers not to all requests, / Bad them not looke for better entertayne […]
Forms
- past tense
- entertained
- past participle
- entertained
- present participle
- entertaining
- third person singular
- entertains
entertain · To amuse (someone); to engage the attention of agreeably.
entertained · Enjoying to having enjoyed entertainments; amused.entertainer · A person who entertains others, esp. as a profession, as a…entertaining · Very amusing; that entertains.