pleasure
/'pleʤə/
Học thuậtThân thiện
Definition
- Noun:
- A feeling of happy satisfaction and enjoyment: A positive emotional state resulting from something that is enjoyable or fulfilling.
- An event or activity from which one derives enjoyment: Something that is done for enjoyment rather than for a serious or practical purpose.
- Sensual gratification or enjoyment: Specifically, enjoyment derived from physical, often sexual, sensations.
- A person's will or desire: Used in formal contexts to indicate what someone wishes or prefers.
Examples of Usage
- Noun:
- Reading a good book is one of life's simple pleasures. (Describes a source of enjoyment.)
- She smiled with pleasure when she saw the gift. (Describes a feeling of happy satisfaction.)
- He serves at the pleasure of the board of directors. (Formal expression meaning according to their will or desire.)
- The meal was a great pleasure. (Describes something that provides enjoyment.)
Advanced Usage
- "At someone's pleasure": According to someone's wish or command; for as long as they desire.
- The ambassador serves at the pleasure of the President.
- "My pleasure" or "It's a pleasure": A polite formula used in response to thanks or as part of an offer.
- "Thank you for your help." – "My pleasure."
- "To take pleasure in (something/doing something)": To enjoy something or find it satisfying.
- He takes great pleasure in gardening.
Variants and Related Words
- Pleasurable (adjective): Giving pleasure; enjoyable.
- We spent a pleasurable afternoon by the lake.
- Pleasure-seeking (adjective, noun): The act of or tendency to seek enjoyment, especially of a sensual kind.
- His pleasure-seeking lifestyle left him unfulfilled.
- Pleasure principle (noun): In psychoanalysis, the instinctive drive to seek pleasure and avoid pain.
Synonyms
- Enjoyment: The state or process of taking pleasure in something.
- Delight: Great pleasure.
- Gratification: Pleasure, especially when gained from the satisfaction of a desire.
- Satisfaction: Fulfillment of one's wishes, expectations, or needs.
Related Phrases (Phrasal Verbs)
- Pleasure in (archaic/formal verb): To take pleasure or delight in something.
- He pleasures in the simple things in life.
Related Idioms
- "With pleasure": Willingly and gladly. Used to express polite agreement.
- "Could you pass the salt?" – "With pleasure."
- "A man/woman of pleasure" (archaic): A person devoted to the pursuit of sensual enjoyment.
- "Mix business with pleasure": To combine work activities with social or enjoyable ones.
- The conference was a chance to mix business with pleasure.
Noun
- sexual gratification
- he took his pleasure of her
- an activity that affords enjoyment
- he puts duty before pleasure
- a formal expression
- he serves at the pleasure of the President
- something or someone that provides a source of happiness
- a joy to behold
- the pleasure of his company
- the new car is a delight
- a fundamental feeling that is hard to define but that people desire to experience
- he was tingling with pleasure