pleasure

[ plezh-er ]
See synonyms for pleasure on Thesaurus.com
noun
  1. the state or feeling of being pleased.

  2. enjoyment or satisfaction derived from what is to one's liking; gratification; delight.

  1. worldly or frivolous enjoyment: the pursuit of pleasure.

  2. recreation or amusement; diversion; enjoyment: Are you traveling on business or for pleasure?

  3. sensual gratification.

  4. a cause or source of enjoyment or delight: It was a pleasure to see you.

  5. pleasurable quality: the pleasure of his company.

  6. one's will, desire, or choice: to make known one's pleasure.

verb (used with object),pleas·ured, pleas·ur·ing.
  1. to give pleasure to, especially sexually; gratify; please.

verb (used without object),pleas·ured, pleas·ur·ing.
  1. to take pleasure; delight: I pleasure in your company.

  2. to seek pleasure, as by taking a holiday.

Origin of pleasure

1
First recorded in1325–75; late Middle English (see please, -ure); replacing Middle English plaisir, from Middle French (noun use of infinitive), from Latin placēre “to please”

synonym study For pleasure

1. Pleasure, enjoyment, delight, joy refer to the feeling of being pleased and happy. Pleasure is the general term: to take pleasure in beautiful scenery. Enjoyment is a quiet sense of well-being and pleasurable satisfaction: enjoyment at sitting in the shade on a warm day. Delight is a high degree of pleasure, usually leading to active expression of it: delight at receiving a hoped-for letter. Joy is a feeling of delight so deep and so lasting that one radiates happiness and expresses it spontaneously: joy at unexpected good news.

Other words for pleasure

Other words from pleasure

  • pleas·ure·ful, adjective
  • pleas·ure·less, adjective
  • pleas·ure·less·ly, adverb
  • an·ti·pleas·ure, noun, adjective

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

British Dictionary definitions for pleasure

pleasure

/ (ˈplɛʒə) /


noun
  1. an agreeable or enjoyable sensation or emotion: the pleasure of hearing good music

  2. something that gives or affords enjoyment or delight: his garden was his only pleasure

    • amusement, recreation, or enjoyment

    • (as modifier): a pleasure boat; pleasure ground

  1. euphemistic sexual gratification or enjoyment: he took his pleasure of her

  2. a person's preference or choice

verb
  1. (when intr, often foll by in) to give pleasure to or take pleasure (in)

Origin of pleasure

1
C14 plesir, from Old French; related to Old French plaisir to please

Derived forms of pleasure

  • pleasureful, adjective
  • pleasureless, adjective

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012