1.entertain的基本意思是“款待”,指提供饭菜或某项服务或其他物品而使某人高兴,可引申为“(使)欢乐”“(使)娱乐”。
2.entertain可用作及物动词或不及物动词。用作及物动词时,后可接代词、名词作简单宾语。可用于被动结构。
3.entertain引申可作“抱有,考虑”解,后可接建议、想法、事业心等作宾语。

用作不及物动词
▲S+～(+A)
Diplomats often entertain.外交官们经常招待客人。
She likes to dance and entertain.她喜爱跳舞和招待客人。
We are too busy to entertain much nowadays.现今我们忙得都不能经常请客了。
用作及物动词
▲S+～+n./pron.
We entertain our friends at dinner.我们招待朋友吃饭。
I entertained my friends at my own table with a simple meal.我在自己家里请朋友吃了一顿便饭。
They entertained guests with refreshments.他们以茶点招待客人。
He entertains his guest very poorly.他对客人很怠慢。
A circus show entertains children.马戏表演使孩子们兴高采烈。
He entertained us with music.他以音乐使我们快乐。
We entertained the guests with a detailed description of the party.我们给客人详细地介绍了晚会的情况。
They entertained a firm belief in final victory.他们对最后胜利抱有坚定信心。
We had always entertained the kindness feelings toward his family.我们对他的一家一直怀有好感。
I entertained grave doubts about the wisdom of what he was doing.我很怀疑他正在做的事是否明智。
I refuse to entertain such a foolish idea.我拒绝考虑如此愚蠢的想法。
He has entertained the proposal.他已考虑这一建议。
If you put the idea before him, he may entertain it.如果把你的想法和他说出来,他可能会考虑的。
◇ 用于be ～ed 结构
They were entertained at a tea party.我们举办茶话会招待他们。
We were all entertained by his tricks.我们大家对他的把戏都感兴趣。
The audience was very much entertained by the show.这场演出令观众愉快。
Some people are entertained by the radio and television.有些人靠听广播和看电视来消遣。

entertain, amuse, divert, recreate
参见amuse条。