Definitions for pleasure
ˈplɛʒ ərplea·sure

Princeton's WordNet(2.00 / 2 votes)Rate this definition:

1. pleasure, pleasancenoun

   a fundamental feeling that is hard to define but that people desire to experience

   "he was tingling with pleasure"

2. joy, delight, pleasurenoun

   something or someone that provides a source of happiness

   "a joy to behold"; "the pleasure of his company"; "the new car is a delight"

3. pleasurenoun

   a formal expression

   "he serves at the pleasure of the President"

4. pleasurenoun

   an activity that affords enjoyment

   "he puts duty before pleasure"

5. pleasurenoun

   sexual gratification

   "he took his pleasure of her"

Wiktionary(4.40 / 5 votes)Rate this definition:

1. pleasurenoun

   a state of being pleased

2. pleasurenoun

   a person, thing or action that causes enjoyment

3. pleasurenoun

   one's preference

   What is your pleasure, coffee or tea?

4. pleasurenoun

   the will or desire of someone or some agency in power

5. pleasureverb

   to give pleasure (especially sexual pleasure) to

   Johnny pleasured Jackie orally last night.

Samuel Johnson's Dictionary(0.00 / 0 votes)Rate this definition:

1. PLEASUREnoun

   Etymology: plaisir, French.

   1. Delight; gratification of the mind or senses.

   Pleasure, in general, is the consequent apprehension of a suitable object, suitably applied to a rightly disposed faculty. Robert South, Sermons.

   A cause of men’s taking pleasure in the sins of others, is, that poor spiritedness that accompanies guilt. Robert South, Sermons.

   In hollow caves sweet echo quiet lies;
   Her name with pleasure once she taught the shore,
   Now Daphne’s dead, and pleasure is no more. Alexander Pope.

   2. Loose gratification.

   Convey your pleasures in a spacious plenty,
   And yet seem cold. William Shakespeare.

   Behold yon dame does shake the head to hear of pleasure’s name. William Shakespeare, King Lear.

   Not sunk in carnal pleasure. John Milton.

   3. Approbation.

   The Lord taketh pleasure in them that fear him. Psalms.

   4. What the will dictates.

   Use your pleasure; if your love do not persuade you to come, let not my letter. William Shakespeare, Merch. of Venice.

   He will do his pleasure on Babylon. Is. xlviii.

   5. Choice; arbitrary will.

   We ascribe not only effects depending on the natural period of time unto arbitrary calculations, and such as vary at pleasure, but confirm our tenets by the uncertain account of others. Thomas Browne, Vulgar Errours, b. iv.

   Half their fleet offends
   His open side, and high above him shews;
   Upon the rest at pleasure he descends,
   And doubly harm’d, he double harm bestows. Dryden.

   Raise tempests at your pleasure. Dryden.

   We can at pleasure move several parts of our bodies John Locke.

   All the land in their dominions being acquired by conquest, was disposed by them according to their pleasure. Arbuthnot.

2. To Pleasureverb

   To please; to gratify. This word, though supported by good authority, is, I think, inelegant.

   Etymology: from the noun.

   Things, thus set in order,
   Shall further thy harvest, and pleasure thee best. Thomas Tusser.

   I count it one of my greatest afflictions, that I cannot pleasure such an honourable gentleman. William Shakespeare.

   If what pleases him, shall pleasure you,
   Fight closer, or good faith you’ll catch a blow. William Shakespeare.

   When the way of pleasuring and displeasuring lieth by the favourite, it is impossible any should be overgreat. Francis Bacon.

   Nothing is difficult to love; it will make a man cross his own inclinations to pleasure them whom he loves. John Tillotson.

Webster Dictionary(2.75 / 4 votes)Rate this definition:

1. Pleasurenoun

   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

2. Pleasurenoun

   amusement; sport; diversion; self-indulgence; frivolous or dissipating enjoyment; hence, sensual gratification; -- opposed to labor, service, duty, self-denial, etc

3. Pleasurenoun

   what the will dictates or prefers as gratifying or satisfying; hence, will; choice; wish; purpose

4. Pleasurenoun

   that which pleases; a favor; a gratification

5. Pleasureverb

   to give or afford pleasure to; to please; to gratify

6. Pleasureverb

   to take pleasure; to seek pursue pleasure; as, to go pleasuring

Freebase(5.00 / 2 votes)Rate this definition:

1. Pleasure

   Pleasure describes the broad class of mental states that humans and other animals experience as positive, enjoyable, or worth seeking. It includes more specific mental states such as happiness, entertainment, enjoyment, ecstasy, and euphoria. In psychology, the pleasure principle describes pleasure as a positive feedback mechanism, motivating the organism to recreate in the future the situation which it has just found pleasurable. According to this theory, organisms are similarly motivated to avoid situations that have caused pain in the past. The experience of pleasure is subjective and different individuals will experience different kinds and amounts of pleasure in the same situation. Many pleasurable experiences are associated with satisfying basic biological drives, such as eating, exercise, sex or defecation. Other pleasurable experiences are associated with social experiences and social drives, such as the experiences of accomplishment, recognition, and service. The appreciation of cultural artifacts and activities such as art, music, and literature is often pleasurable. In recent years, significant progress has been made in understanding the brain mechanisms underlying pleasure. One of the key discoveries was made by Kent C. Berridge who has shown that pleasure is not a unitary experience. Rather, pleasure consists of multiple brain processes including liking, wanting and learning subserved by distinct yet partially overlapping brain networks. In particular, this research has been helped by the use of objective pleasure-elicited reactions in humans and other animals such as the behavioral ‘liking’/‘disliking’ facial expressions to tastes that are homologous between humans and many other mammals.

U.S. National Library of Medicine(0.00 / 0 votes)Rate this definition:

1. Pleasure

   Sensation of enjoyment or gratification.

Editors Contribution(0.00 / 0 votes)Rate this definition:

1. pleasure

   An activity that creates joy, unity and love.

   The simple pleasure of life is being loved for who you are.

   
   

   Submitted by MaryC on February 23, 2020  

Suggested Resources(0.00 / 0 votes)Rate this definition:

1. pleasure

   Song lyrics by pleasure -- Explore a large variety of song lyrics performed by pleasure on the Lyrics.com website.

Matched Categories

1. • Activity
   • Choice
   • Feeling
   • Positive Stimulus
   • Sexual Activity

British National Corpus

1. Spoken Corpus Frequency

   Rank popularity for the word 'pleasure' in Spoken Corpus Frequency: #1990

2. Written Corpus Frequency

   Rank popularity for the word 'pleasure' in Written Corpus Frequency: #2646

3. Nouns Frequency

   Rank popularity for the word 'pleasure' in Nouns Frequency: #793

Anagrams for pleasure »

1. serpulae

How to pronounce pleasure?

1. Alex

   US English

   David

   US English

   Mark

   US English

   Daniel

   British

   Libby

   British

   Mia

   British

   Karen

   Australian

   Hayley

   Australian

   Natasha

   Australian

   Veena

   Indian

   Priya

   Indian

   Neerja

   Indian

   Zira

   US English

   Oliver

   British

   Wendy

   British

   Fred

   US English

   Tessa

   South African

How to say pleasure in sign language?

Numerology

1. Chaldean Numerology

   The numerical value of pleasure in Chaldean Numerology is: 6

2. Pythagorean Numerology

   The numerical value of pleasure in Pythagorean Numerology is: 7

Examples of pleasure in a Sentence

1. Robert Earl:

   I’ve had the pleasure of getting to know Guy — first with the launch of his sandwich and burger menu at Planet Hollywood. Since then, we have kept in touch, determined to work on more projects together, we have found the perfect venture with Chicken Guy!, certain to be a crowd-pleaser. I have personally tasted all the menu items and can’t wait to open at Disney Springs and across the country, because I know our guests will love what Guy has put on the menu.

2. Tom Perriello:

   As painful as yesterday was for Virginia, I hoped that today would bring healing, truth and transformation. I pray Sunday will be that day, it gives me no pleasure to say that what we're seeing is the manifestation of white male entitlement.

3. Dominic Thiem:

   It is such a pleasure to compete with you, to learn so much from you, and to play with one of the biggest legends of all time, i feel like it's not my right to congratulate you, you have 88 more titles than me, so I'm just hoping you play more and we can have some other big finals.

4. George Sheehan:

   Happiness is different from pleasure. Happiness has something to do with struggling and enduring and accomplishing.

5. Paul Wiener:

   But few have spoken of the actual pleasure derived from giving to someone, from creating something, from finishing a task, form offering unexpected help almost invisibly and anonymously.

Popularity rank by frequency of use