The word entertain is often associated with fun and laughter, but it can also refer to an agreeable occupation for the mind (such as solving a crossword puzzle) or an activity that gives pleasure, diversion, or amusement: a ball; a theater performance. Entertainment can be on a small scale, such as a meal enjoyed by two; or it can be large and elaborate, such as a banquet or a performance. The varying forms of entertainment serve many purposes: they can be social, religious or political; they can enlighten by providing insight or intellectual growth, and they can even provide a form of escapism.