Real Dictionary

invest
verb: If you invest in something useful, you buy it, because it will help you to do something more efficiently or more cheaply.
verb: If you invest in something, or if you invest a sum of money, you use your money in a way that you hope will increase its value, for example by paying it into a bank, or buying shares or property.
verb: If you invest time or energy in something, you spend a lot of time or energy on something that you consider to be useful or likely to be successful.
verb: When a government or organization invests in something, it gives or lends money for a purpose that it considers useful or profitable.

invest in American English
to clothe; array; adorn
intransitive verb: to invest money; make an investment
transitive verb: to put (money) to use, by purchase or expenditure, in something offering potential profitable returns, as interest, income, or appreciation in value

invest in British English
verb: to lay out (money or capital in an enterprise, esp by purchasing shares) with the expectation of profit

invest in Finance
verb: If you invest your money, you put it into a business or a bank, to try to make a profit from it.