Interest.
Interest. A fee paid by a borrower to the lender as a form of compensation for the use of money. When money is borrowed, interest is paid as a fee over a certain period of time (typically months or years) to the lender as a percentage of the principal amount owed. The term interest does not include default or penalty interest or late payment fees or charges.
Source
7 CFR § 4279.2
Scoping language
Definitions. The following definitions apply to this subpart: