I need help understanding "interest rates"!

[ecurbj]

It's sort of a n00b question.

I clearly don't know anything about interest and I just have a question to ask you guys.

What is interest rates and what do they mean?

Can you give me an example too!! like in a car buying situation and applying for a credit card or a store credit card situation!?

I'm fairly confused and don't know much about it. I probably was taught it in Math courses in my middle school or high school career but I probably ignored it. But I need help understanding it.

Sorry to those that make think I'm stupid but I do need to know what it means.

Thanks...