英语词汇“entertain”的英英意思、用法、释义、翻译、读音、例句、短语、词组-英语词典

entertainentertain /ˌɛntɚˈteɪn/ ●●○ S3 verb

ETYMOLOGYentertain

Origin: 1400-1500 Old French entretenir to hold together, support, from tenir to hold

VERB TABLE

entertain

Simple Form
Present	I, you, we, they	entertain
	he, she, it	entertains
Past	I, you, he, she, it, we, they	entertained
Present perfect	I, you, we, they	have entertained
	he, she, it	has entertained
Past perfect	I, you, he, she, it, we, they	had entertained
Future	I, you, he, she, it, we, they	will entertain
Future perfect	I, you, he, she, it, we, they	will have entertained

Continuous Form
Present	I	am entertaining
	he, she, it	is entertaining
	you, we, they	are entertaining
Past	I, he, she, it	was entertaining
	you, we, they	were entertaining
Present perfect	I, you, we, they	have been entertaining
	he, she, it	has been entertaining
Past perfect	I, you, he, she, it, we, they	had been entertaining
Future	I, you, he, she, it, we, they	will be entertaining
Future perfect	I, you, he, she, it, we, they	will have been entertaining

COLLOCATIONS► entertaining the idea of

Since last year, he’s been entertaining the idea of retiring.

1[intransitive, transitive] to do something that amuses or interests people: It is a movie that will inspire and entertain you.entertain somebody with something He used to entertain his family with jokes and songs.2entertain yourself to do something that keeps you busy and interested: Some children can entertain themselves quietly with books or games.3[intransitive, transitive] to spend time with people that you have invited to a dinner, party, etc. for pleasure or business: Mike often gets home late when he’s entertaining business clients.4entertain an idea/thought/doubt etc. to allow yourself to consider or think about something: Since last year, he’s been entertaining the idea of retiring. [Origin: 1400–1500 Old French entretenir to hold together, support, from tenir to hold]