1. [v]  make (somebody) laugh; "The clown amused the children"
2. [v]  occupy in an agreeable, entertaining or pleasant fashion; "The play amused the ladies"

AMUSE is a 5 letter word that starts with A.

1. \A*muse"\ ([.a]*m[=u]z"), v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Amused}
   ([.a]*m[=u]zd"); p. pr. & vb. n. {Amusing}.] [F. amuser to
   make stay, to detain, to amuse, [`a] (L. ad) + OF. muser. See
   {Muse}, v.]
   1. To occupy or engage the attention of; to lose in deep
      thought; to absorb; also, to distract; to bewilder. [Obs.]
            Camillus set upon the Gauls when they were amused in
            receiving their gold.                 --Holland.
            Being amused with grief, fear, and fright, he could
            not find the house.                   --Fuller.
   2. To entertain or occupy in a pleasant manner; to stir with
      pleasing or mirthful emotions; to divert.
            A group of children amusing themselves with pushing
            stones from the top [of the cliff], and watching as
            they plunged into the lake.           --Gilpin.
   3. To keep in expectation; to beguile; to delude.
            He amused his followers with idle promises.
                                                  --Johnson.
   Syn: To entertain; gratify; please; divert; beguile; deceive;
        occupy.
   Usage: To {Amuse}, {Divert}, {Entertain}. We are amused by
          that which occupies us lightly and pleasantly. We are
          entertained by that which brings our minds into
          agreeable contact with others, as conversation, or a
          book. We are diverted by that which turns off our
          thoughts to something of livelier interest, especially
          of a sportive nature, as a humorous story, or a
          laughable incident.
                Whatever amuses serves to kill time, to lull the
                faculties, and to banish reflection. Whatever
                entertains usually awakens the understanding or
                gratifies the fancy. Whatever diverts is lively
                in its nature, and sometimes tumultuous in its
                effects.                          --Crabb.
   

2. \A*muse"\, v. i.
   To muse; to mediate. [Obs.]