English Explanatory Dictionary

pleasure

English dictionary entry

Meanings

noun
  1. A state of being pleased or contented; gratification.
  2. A person, thing or action that causes enjoyment.
  3. Sexual enjoyment.
  4. One's preference.
  5. The will or desire of someone or some agency in power.
intj
  1. pleased to meet you, "It's my pleasure"
verb
  1. To give or afford pleasure to.
  2. To give sexual pleasure to.
  3. To take pleasure; to seek or pursue pleasure.

Pronunciation

/ˈplɛʒə/ plĕzhʹər /ˈplɛʒɚ/ en-us-pleasure.ogg

Word forms

pleasure pleasures pleasuring pleasured

Etymology

From Early Modern English pleasur, plesur, alteration (with ending accommodated to -ure) of Middle English plaisir (“pleasure”), from Old French plesir, plaisir (“to please”), infinitive used as a noun, conjugated form of plaisir or plaire, from Latin placeō (“to please, to seem good”), from the Proto-Indo-European *pleh₂-k- (“wide and flat”). Related to Dutch plezier (“pleasure, fun”). More at please.

Synonyms

beatitude bliss delectation delight ecstasy euphoria lust nirvana pleasure rapture ravishment transport gladness gratification happiness indulgence satisfaction joy desire fancy want will wish discretion please gratify

Antonyms

agony displeasure pain

Related words

aroused blissful happy pleasant displeasure please

Derived words

antipleasure at Her Majesty's pleasure at His Majesty's pleasure at one's pleasure at pleasure business before pleasure do someone a pleasure do someone the pleasure of during Her Majesty's pleasure during His Majesty's pleasure during one's pleasure during pleasure end-pleasure English pleasure fore-pleasure forepleasure gold-of-pleasure gold of pleasure gold-pleasure guilty pleasure have the pleasure it's a pleasure lady of pleasure live at Her Majesty's pleasure man of pleasure manually pleasure mix business with pleasure my pleasure oral pleasure pleasurable pleasurance pleasure barge pleasure boat pleasurebot pleasure-carriage pleasure center pleasure centre pleasure craft pleasure cruise pleasure curve pleasured pleasure dome pleasuredome pleasuredrome pleasureful pleasure gap pleasure garden pleasure-giving pleasure ground pleasurehood pleasure house pleasureless pleasure-loving pleasurement pleasure moment pleasuremonger pleasure of someone's company pleasure-pain principle pleasure palace pleasure principle

Translations

Catalan: agradar Esperanto: plezuri Portuguese: agradar Spanish: gustar
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