pleasure
NounOpen English WordNet
Noun (5)pleasures
- a fundamental feeling that is hard to define but that people desire to experience“he was tingling with pleasure”Synonyms: pleasanceType of feelingKinds delight, enjoyment, comfort, sexual pleasure, pleasantness
- something or someone that provides a source of happiness“a joy to behold”“the pleasure of his company”“the new car is a delight”Synonyms: joydelightType of positive stimulus
- a formal expression“he serves at the pleasure of the President”Type of choice, pick
- an activity that affords enjoyment“he puts duty before pleasure”Type of activityKinds foodgasm, luxuriation
- sexual gratification“he took his pleasure of her”Type of sexual activity, sexual practice
What does it mean? Question 1 of today’s quiz
Translations
Noun a state of being pleased
- Spanish
- placer
- French
- plaisir
- German
- Vergnügen
- Italian
- piacere
- Portuguese
- prazer
- Turkish
- zevk
- Russian
- удово́льствие udovólʹstvije
- Arabic
- مُتْعَة mutʕa
- Chinese
- 乐趣 lèqù
- Japanese
- 喜び yorokobi
27 more languages
- Dutch
- welbehagen
- Polish
- przyjemność
- Swedish
- behag
- Greek
- ευχαρίστηση efcharístisi
- Korean
- 환락 hwallak
- Hungarian
- öröm
- Portuguese (PT)
- prazer
- Chinese (Trad.)
- 樂趣 lèqù
- Albanian
- kënaqësi
- Catalan
- plaer
- Czech
- rozkoš
- Danish
- fornøjelse
- Esperanto
- plezuro
- Estonian
- mõnu
- Finnish
- ilo
- Georgian
- სიამოვნება siamovneba
- Icelandic
- ánægja
- Kurdish
- sefa
- Latvian
- prieks
- Lithuanian
- malonumas
- Norwegian
- fornøyelse
- Romanian
- plăcere
- Scottish Gaelic
- tlachd
- Swahili
- anasa
- Walloon
- plaijhi
- Welsh
- pleser
- Yiddish
- פֿאַרגעניגן fargenign
The main translation for each meaning, from the langtolang.com multilingual dictionary. Each word links to its full entry there.
Webster's Dictionary (1913)
Origin: F. plaisir, originally an infinitive. See Please.
1. The gratification of the senses or of the mind; agreeable sensations or emotions; the excitement, relish, or happiness produced by the expectation or the enjoyment of something good, delightful, or satisfying; — opposed to pain, sorrow, etc.
At thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore.— Ps. xvi. 11.
2. Amusement; sport; diversion; self-indulgence; frivolous or dissipating enjoyment; hence, sensual gratification; — opposed to labor, service, duty, self-denial, etc. “Not sunk in carnal pleasure.” John Milton
He that loveth pleasure shall be a poor man.— Prov. xxi. 17.
Lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God.— 2 Tim. iii. 4.
3. What the will dictates or prefers as gratifying or satisfying; hence, will; choice; wish; purpose. “He will do his pleasure on Babylon.” Isa. xlviii. 14.
Use your pleasure; if your love do not presuade you to come, let not my letter.— William Shakespeare
4. That which pleases; a favor; a gratification. William Shakespeare
Festus, willing to do the Jews a pleasure— Acts xxv. 9.
At pleasure, by arbitrary will or choice. John Dryden — To take pleasure in, to have enjoyment in. Ps. cxlvii. 11.
☞ Pleasure is used adjectively, or in the formation of self-explaining compounds; as, pleasure boat, pleasure ground; pleasure house, etc.
Synonyms: Enjoyment; gratification; satisfaction; comfort; solace; joy; gladness; delight; will; choice; preference; purpose; command; favor; kindness.
To give or afford pleasure to; to please; to gratify. William Shakespeare
[Rolled] his hoop to pleasure Edith.— Alfred Tennyson
To take pleasure; to seek pursue pleasure; as, to go pleasuring.
Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913), from GCIDE 0.54