fascinate

from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition.

• intransitive verb To capture and hold the interest and attention of. synonym: charm.
• intransitive verb Archaic To deprive of the ability to escape or move, usually by the power of a look. Used of serpents.
• intransitive verb Obsolete To bewitch.
• intransitive verb To capture and hold someone's interest and attention.

from The Century Dictionary.

• To bewitch; act on by witchcraft or by some analogous powerful or irresistible influence; hence, to influence the imagination, reason, or will of in an uncontrollable manner.
• To enchant; captivate; excite the passions or affections of, and allure powerfully or irresistibly.
• Synonyms Charm, etc. (see enchant); to throw or bring under a spell, hold spell-bound, entrance, enamour.
• To exercise a bewitching or captivating power.

from the GNU version of the Collaborative International Dictionary of English.

• transitive verb To influence in an uncontrollable manner; to operate on by some powerful or irresistible charm; to bewitch; to enchant.
• transitive verb To excite and allure irresistibly or powerfully; to charm; to captivate, as by physical or mental charms.

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.

• verb To evoke an intense interest or attraction in someone
• verb To make someone hold motionless; to spellbind
• verb To be irresistibly charming or attractive to

from WordNet 3.0 Copyright 2006 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.

• verb attract; cause to be enamored
• verb cause to be interested or curious
• verb to render motionless, as with a fixed stare or by arousing terror or awe