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Excite vs Entertain - What's the difference?

excite | entertain |

As verbs the difference between excite and entertain

is that excite is while entertain is to amuse (someone); to engage the attention of agreeably.

As an adjective excite

is horny; excited.

As a noun entertain is

(obsolete) ; pleasure.

excite

English

Verb

(excit)
  • To stir the emotions of.
  • The fireworks which opened the festivities excited anyone present.
  • To arouse or bring out (eg feelings); to stimulate.
  • Favoritism tends to excite jealousy in the ones not being favored.
    The political reforms excited unrest among to population.
    There are drugs designed to excite certain nerves in our body.
  • (physics) To cause an electron to move to a higher than normal state; to promote an electron to an outer level.
  • By applying electric potential to the neon atoms, the electrons become excited , then emit a photon when returning to normal.

    Antonyms

    * relax, calm

    entertain

    English

    Verb

    (en verb)
  • 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.
  • (transitive, and, intransitive) To have someone over at one's home for a party or visit.
  • They enjoy entertaining a lot.
  • * Bible, Heb. xiii. 2
  • Be not forgetful to entertain strangers
  • 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
  • * De Quincey
  • I am not here going to entertain so large a theme as the philosophy of Locke.
  • * Hawthorne
  • A rumour gained ground, — and, however absurd, was entertained by some very sensible people.
  • (obsolete) To take or keep in one's service; to maintain; to support; to harbour; to keep.
  • * Shakespeare
  • You, sir, I entertain for one of my hundred.
  • (obsolete) To meet or encounter, as an enemy.
  • (Shakespeare)
  • (obsolete) To lead on; to bring along; to introduce.
  • * Jeremy Taylor
  • to baptize all nations, and entertain them into the services and institutions of the holy Jesus

    Derived terms

    * entertainer * entertaining * entertainment

    Noun

    (-)
  • (obsolete) ; pleasure.
  • (obsolete) Reception of a guest; welcome.
  • * 1596 , (Edmund Spenser), The Faerie Queene , IV.8:
  • But neede, that answers not to all requests, / Bad them not looke for better entertayne […].

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