pleasure

American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition

1. n. The state or feeling of being pleased or gratified.
2. n. A source of enjoyment or delight: The graceful skaters were a pleasure to watch.
3. n. Amusement, diversion, or worldly enjoyment: "Pleasure . . . is a safer guide than either right or duty” ( Samuel Butler).
4. n. Sensual gratification or indulgence.
5. n. One's preference or wish: What is your pleasure?
6. v. To give pleasure or enjoyment to; gratify: Our host pleasured us with his company.
7. v. To take pleasure; delight: The hiker paused, pleasuring in the sounds of the forest.
8. v. To go in search of pleasure or enjoyment.

Century Dictionary and Cyclopedia

1. n. That character of a feeling by virtue of which it gratifies the sentient being that experiences it, so that there is an impulse to its continuance or renewal. As being a character of a mere feeling, pleasure is distinguished from happiness, which is a general state of consciousness arising from such an adaptation of circumstances to desires as to produce a prevalent sense of satisfaction. According to hedonistic writers, happiness consists in an excess of pleasure over pain. Pleasure is measured by its intensity, its duration, the freedom from consequent pain, the number of persons whom it affects, etc.
2. n. Sensual gratification; indulgeuce of the appetites.
3. n. That which pleases or gratifies the senses or the mind; that which is delightful or beautiful.
4. n. A favor; gratification.
5. n. Will; desire; preference, or whatever one chooses, desires, or wills: as, it is my pleasure to remain.
6. n. Synonyms Joy, Delight, etc. (see gladness), satisfaction, comfort, solace.
7. n. Self-indulgence; luxury, sensuality, voluptuousness.
8. n. Kindness.
9. To give pleasure to; please; gratify.

Wiktionary

1. n. uncountable a state of being pleased
2. n. countable a person, thing or action that causes enjoyment
3. n. uncountable one's preference
4. n. formal (uncountable) the will or desire of someone or some agency in power
5. interj. pleasure to meet you, pleased to meet you
6. v. transitive to give pleasure (especially sexual pleasure) to
7. v. intransitive, dated To take pleasure; to seek or pursue pleasure.

GNU Webster's 1913

1. n. 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. n. Amusement; sport; diversion; self-indulgence; frivolous or dissipating enjoyment; hence, sensual gratification; -- opposed to labor, service, duty, self-denial, etc.
3. n. What the will dictates or prefers as gratifying or satisfying; hence, will; choice; wish; purpose.
4. n. That which pleases; a favor; a gratification.
5. v. To give or afford pleasure to; to please; to gratify.
6. v. To take pleasure; to seek pursue pleasure.

WordNet 3.0

1. n. something or someone that provides a source of happiness
2. n. an activity that affords enjoyment
3. n. a fundamental feeling that is hard to define but that people desire to experience
4. n. sexual gratification
5. n. a formal expression