/ ˌentəˈteɪn; NAmE -tərˈt-/ verb
1.
to invite people to eat or drink with you as your guests, especially in your home :
[ v ]
The job involves a lot of entertaining.
[ vn ]
Barbecues are a favourite way of entertaining friends.
2.
entertain (sb) (with sth) to interest and amuse sb in order to please them :
[ vn ]
He entertained us for hours with his stories and jokes.
[ v ]
The aim of the series is both to entertain and inform.
3.
[ vn ] (not used in the progressive tenses) ( formal ) to consider or allow yourself to think about an idea, a hope, a feeling, etc. :
He had entertained hopes of a reconciliation.
to entertain a doubt / suspicion
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WORD ORIGIN
late Middle English : from French entretenir , based on Latin inter among + tenere to hold. The word originally meant maintain, continue , later maintain in a certain condition, treat in a certain way , also show hospitality (late 15th cent.).