To maintain; keep up; hold.To maintain physically; provide for; support; hence, to take into service.To provide comfort or gratification for; care for by hospitality, attentions, or diversions; gratify or amuse; hence, to receive and provide for, as a guest, freely or for pay; furnish with accommodation, refreshment, or diversion: as, to entertain one's friends at dinner, or with music and conversation; to be entertained at an inn or at the theater.To provide for agreeably, as the passage of time; while away; divert.To take in; receive; give admittance to; admit.To take into the mind; take into consideration; consider with reference to decision or action; give heed to; harbor: as, to entertain a proposal.To hold in the mind; maintain; cherish: as, to entertain decided opinions; he entertains the belief that he is inspired.To engage; give occupation to, as in a contest.To treat; consider; regard.Synonyms Divert, Beguile. See amuse.To exercise hospitality; give entertainments; receive company: as, he entertains generously.n. Entertainment.