figurative. To cause to be ‘lost’ in something; to ‘drown’, ‘absorb’, engross, occupy wholly. (Now only with up: see 10d.)

transitive. To plunge or immerse deeply (literal and figurative); to drown. Obsolete.

To daze, paralyse, or render helpless, with the sight of something; to dazzle and fascinate. to dare larks, to fascinate and daze them, in order to…

To keep in a state of mental fixity, attention, or contemplation; to rivet the attention of.

transitive. Of a subject, matter, etc.: to engross or dominate (the mind, senses, etc.) to the exclusion of other matters; to distract; to concern to…

Of things. To occupy (a person) so as to engross the attention; to absorb.

to swallow up. To occupy entirely, engross, ‘absorb’, ‘drown’; = 4b.

figurative. To ‘wrap’ in slumber, trance, etc.; to absorb or engross in contemplation, thought, etc.

transitive. To involve or engage (a person) in something; to embroil. In passive in quot. Obsolete. rare.

In various metaphorical applications. To involve deeply in a state or condition; to imbue or permeate thoroughly (with some quality); to make…

transitive. To keep busy, engage, occupy (a person, the mind, attention, etc.). Chiefly in passive with with or (occasionally) in.

transitive. To charm, fascinate, bewitch, bind by (or as by) a spell; to act as a spell upon.

transitive. To take up the time or attention of; to occupy, engross. Now rare.

figurative. To hold fast, rivet (the attention); to bind, attach (the emotions) closely to an object. Hence with personal object. See enchaining, adj.

Of an object of thought or feeling: To draw entirely to itself, occupy exclusively, absorb (the affections, attention, mind, time, etc.).

transitive. To engage entirely the attention or faculties of; to interest (a person) greatly, engross.

Of an object of vision or thought: To ‘rivet’, attract and hold fast (the eye, the attention, etc.).

transitive. To hold and engross the attention of (a person). Chiefly in passive.

transitive. To capture the imagination or interest of (a person); to be extremely interesting or absorbing to; to intrigue. Also intransitive.

transitive. To bind by, or as by, a spell; to fascinate, enchant.

transitive. To catch and fix (the sight, hearing, attention, mind, etc.).

transitive. To affect (a person) as if by hypnosis; to fascinate, hold spellbound.

slang (originally U.S.). transitive. To excite or stimulate the interest or enthusiasm of (a person), esp. sexually.

transitive. colloquial. To arouse deep emotions in (a person); to enthral, attract, appeal to.

transitive. To engage the full attention or energy of (a person); (of a feeling or emotion) to overwhelm.