delight1 noundelight2 verb
delightde‧light1 /dɪˈlaɪt/ ●●○ noun 
EXAMPLES FROM OTHER DICTIONARIES
- Horton takes great delight in learning.
- Imagine our delight when we saw your article in the New Yorker.
- Paul's delight at being asked to play the piano for us was clear.
- Robin laughed with delight as the birthday cake was carried in.
- To the audience's delight, she agreed to do another number.
- All the build up of delight shrivelled and stripped Jay to lonely self-scourging.
- He is also a great friend of the Festival, and it will be a delight to have him with us again.
- Is it not a form of self desecration not to cultivate this primeval delight in flowers?
- Like most other volumes in the Compass Guide series, the book is a delight to look at and read.
- Mrs Foster encouraged the staff to avail themselves of the lodge's delights.
- The study of Scripture, he suggested, did nothing to hinder an inquisitive man's delight in the study of nature.
- With stylish roman numerals, gold-plated case and soft leather strap, these elegant watches are a pure delight to wear.
THESAURUS
the feeling you have when you are doing something you enjoy or when something very nice has happened to you: · Most craftsmen get a lot of pleasure out of making things.· His music has brought pleasure to people all over the world.
the feeling you have when you are happy: · Happiness is more important than money.· Pauline was willing to do anything for her children’s happiness.· I doubt she’ll find happiness with Gary.
especially written a deep feeling of great happiness, because something good has happened: · It’s hard to describe the joy we felt, seeing each other again after so many years.· They danced with joy when they heard the news.
great happiness and excitement, because of something good that has happened: · To the audience’s delight, she agreed to play another song.· Imagine my delight when I found out that the house was for sale.
a quietly happy and satisfied feeling, especially because you are happy with your work, your life etc: · He moved to the country and found contentment for the first time in his life.· She settled back in her chair and sighed with contentment.
an extremely strong feeling of happiness and excitement that continues for a short time: · The whole country experienced a period of euphoria after the war ended.· the euphoria that parents feel after the birth of a child
formal a strong feeling of happiness and excitement, especially because you have achieved something: · After she had made her first landing, she experienced a great sense of elation.· The troops’ sense of elation at the victory was not to last.
great happiness especially written a feeling of great happiness: · The sisters hugged and cried tears of joy.· It was a day of great joy for the whole town.· Most people would be jumping with joy.
the feeling you have when you are very pleased and excited because something good has happened: · They watched with delight as their new son started walking.· To her delight, she discovered the perfect wedding present.
a feeling of very great happiness and great pleasure – used when something has a great effect on your senses: · Lying in the warm sun and listening to the sea felt like sheer bliss (=complete bliss).· Her idea of bliss is to be curled up on the sofa watching a romantic comedy with a big bowl of popcorn.· The happy couple looked a picture of domestic bliss.
written a feeling of great happiness and excitement, especially because you have achieved something or something good has happened to you: · As they reached the top, the climbers experienced a moment of elation.· Her mood suddenly changed from tears and misery to a feeling of elation.
an extremely strong feeling of happiness and excitement, especially because you have achieved something, or because of the effects of a drug: · The euphoria that new parents feel quickly changes to exhaustion.· The euphoria of Ireland’s amazing victory over England last Sunday has died away.· The drug produces a feeling of euphoria.
an extremely strong feeling of happiness and pleasure, especially sexual pleasure: · It was a moment of sheer ecstasy (=complete ecstasy).· the ecstasy of their love-making
Longman Language Activatorexperiences and activities that you enjoy an enjoyable activity, especially something you do with other people, is pleasant and interesting: · We spent an enjoyable evening playing cards.· I try to make my lessons more enjoyable by using games.
especially spoken if something is fun , you enjoy it because it is very interesting and exciting: · The course was really hard work but it was fun.have fun (=enjoy yourself with other people): · On Saturday night, all I want to do is relax and have some fun.it is fun to do something/it is fun doing something: · It's fun to eat out sometimes, instead of cooking at home.· It'll be fun seeing all my old friends again.good/great fun (=very enjoyable): · Have you ever been windsurfing? It's really good fun.somebody's idea of fun (=what someone enjoys doing, although other people might not): · Running around a freezing hockey field isn't my idea of fun.half the fun (of it) (=almost as enjoyable as the experience itself): · Planning a vacation is half the fun of it.
formal giving you a lot of pleasure, enjoyment and satisfaction: · The pleasurable effects of any drug quickly wear off.· Once you are reasonably fit, you will find the exercise satisfying and pleasurable.
an experience or activity that makes you feel happy and satisfied: · One of her greatest pleasures was walking in the mountains.the simple pleasures (of life): · Ted enjoyed the simple pleasures of life: his family, his home, and his garden.be a pleasure to look at/watch/read etc: · A really good game of basketball is a pleasure to watch.
formal an event or activity that is a delight is extremely enjoyable, especially when you did not expect it to be: · Sarah found that work was a delight compared to motherhood.· The story's really funny and the illustrations are a delight.be a delight to hear/look at/ see etc: · Anna's piano playing is a delight to listen to.
American informal to be very enjoyable and exciting: · The party was a blast. We didn't stop dancing till three in the morning.
British informal to be enjoyable and amusing: · We went skating on Saturday. I kept falling over, but it was a good laugh.
a happy feeling · Happiness is more important than money.· Pauline was willing to do anything for her children's happiness.find happiness (=become happy) · I doubt she'll find happiness with Gary.
the feeling you have when you are doing something you enjoy or when something very nice had happened to you: · Most craftsmen get a lot of pleasure out of making things.for pleasure: · Are you taking the trip for business or pleasure?give/bring pleasure: · His music has brought pleasure to people all over the world.take pleasure in (doing) something: · Cooper took obvious pleasure in announcing the merger.
especially written a feeling of great happiness, often because something good has happened: · It's hard to describe the joy we felt, seeing each other again after so many years.· The time we spent together in the Bahamas was pure joy.bring joy to somebody: · The toys will bring great joy to countless children.with joy: · People at the wedding laughed and danced with joy.jump/shout/yell etc for joy: · I was so excited about getting the job, I nearly jumped for joy.tears/shouts/cries etc of joy: · The sisters hugged and cried tears of joy.
great happiness and excitement, especially about something good that has happened: · Imagine our delight when we saw your article in the New Yorker.delight at/in: · Paul's delight at being asked to play the piano for us was clear.to somebody's delight: · To the audience's delight, she agreed to do another number.take delight in (doing) something: · Horton takes great delight in learning.with delight: · Robin laughed with delight as the birthday cake was carried in.
a quietly happy and satisfied feeling: · Joey sighed with contentment, snuggling down in his warm bed.
a feeling of very deep happiness and extreme pleasure: · A feeling of bliss came over him as he fell asleep.sheer/pure bliss: · Lying in the warm sun, listening to the sea was sheer bliss.wedded/marital bliss: · After what appeared to be nine years of wedded bliss, the couple has separated.
an extremely strong feeling of happiness and excitement that continues for a short time: · The whole country experienced a period of euphoria after winning the war.· The euphoria that new parents feel quickly changes to exhaustion.
written a strong feeling of happiness, excitement, and pride: · As he spoke you could hear the elation in his voice.· The troops sense of elation at the victory was not to last.
COLLOCATIONS FROM THE ENTRYadjectives
The sight filled her with childlike excitement. the region’s culinary delights (=food that tastes very good) Here’s your chance to sample the delights of country life. She shivered with fear and anger. You should take pride in your work. At first, he took no interest in the baby. Dan gave a yell of delight when Larsson scored.COLLOCATIONS FROM THE CORPUSADJECTIVE
· It gave her great delight to tease him about his various girlfriends.
(=very great)· She opened the present and laughed with sheer delight.
(=easy to see)· Spencer was staring at the girl with obvious delight.
verbs (=enjoy something a lot)· He took delight in entertaining guests in his apartment.
· Lucy suddenly saw the sea and screamed with delight.
· ‘That’s a brilliant idea’! she said, laughing with delight.
· His suggestion was greeted with delight.
phrases· The child gave a squeal of delight.
(=something that gives great pleasure)· It’s a beautiful park and a source of delight to most visitors.
(also to somebody’s great delight) (=used to say that something gave someone a lot of pleasure)· The princess stopped to talk to people, much to the delight of the crowd.
COLLOCATIONS FROM OTHER ENTRIES The sight filled her with childlike excitement.· A rock was loose and he fell with a sharp cry of surprise.
the region’s culinary delights (=food that tastes very good)· ‘I've managed to fix it!’ she said, with a delighted grin.
formal (=react to the news in a particular way)· Fans greeted the news of the victory with a loud cheer.
· I was excited at the prospect of going to Washington.
· Lucinda flashed him a smile of pure joy.
Here’s your chance to sample the delights of country life.· She threw her head back and screamed with laughter.
· We could hear the children’s screams of laughter.
She shivered with fear and anger. You should take pride in your work. At first, he took no interest in the baby. Dan gave a yell of delight when Larsson scored.· Or whatever ethnic culinary delights you are offered.· This is one of the many New York culinary delights that appear only in ersatz forms outside the city.· She might not be able to manage one of Marguerite's culinary delights, but at least she could cook herself a meal.· Guests were full of praise for the culinary delights, and the branch was able to add £527 to its funds.
· They give me very great pleasure and delight.· He has almost given up hunting which was his greatest delight.· To my great delight they all did comfortably worse than Arosa.· On the contrary: I took great delight in my thinness and saw it as the embodiment of my strength and virtue.· He seemed to take great delight in taking the church for a ride.· He thought it best that she not know his great delight.· That was the great delight in discovering Jung.· Like music, the better one knows the score, the greater the delight and reward one gains from reading it.
· With stylish roman numerals, gold-plated case and soft leather strap, these elegant watches are a pure delight to wear.· As I set off I had a fleeting glimpse of the leer of pure delight on Simkin's face.
· In the end, the poems must be read as expressions of sheer delight in friendship.· It has been sheer delight for them.· Birdsong and rebirth and the sheer undiluted delight of living creatures awaking to face another day.· Utterly daft and unsophisticated, it elevated Allen to the very head of the children's table - and is sheer delight.· A sheer delight A simple style and a light touch can be all you need to create a stunning window treatment.· Imagine yourself in a beautiful garden, dancing across the lawns in sheer delight.
VERB· Several times he cried his delight and hugged his father.· I know and name a few of her train stops and she cries out with delight.
· She shut herself in out of the drizzling rain, and expressed her delight with everything.· The band often finds a radio-ravaged fan after a show who expresses surprise and delight in the retro sound.· They then began to light bonfires, expressing their delight.· Picasso and Léger continued to express their delight in the seen world.· He landed at Durlston and expressed his delight at the beautiful scenery and pure air.
· Gaily shook his head and, watching them, Florence Ames laughed with delight.· The crowd began to clap, and some of them laughed with delight.· Despite her vehement protests, he hauled her enfeebled body inside and turned, laughing with delight.
· I had been quite looking forward to sampling its unsavoury delights.· If you want the chance to sample these delights for yourself, enter our competition today!
· She was shivering with delight and pent-up desire.
· I was squealing with delight at the tricks his middle finger was playing when suddenly Captain leapt on us growling.· The children squealed with delight when Karen tallied up the poker chips and announced that Jennifer and Bryan had the highest scores.· Victoria squealed in delight as Stephen caught the erupting bubbles in three tall tulip glasses.· He heard them squealing with delight.· Stickit squealed in delight, waving at the ant figures far below.· Their high voices squealing with delight when Carla mispronounced some word they coaxed her to repeat.· She squealed with delight as she recognised him instantly.· Then she flung herself on to his stomach, squealing with delight, and he began to tickle her.
· Not one took any delight or pride in what he had done.· On the contrary: I took great delight in my thinness and saw it as the embodiment of my strength and virtue.· The first verse concludes: We live at our pleasure, and take our delight.· We come away well-pleased with ourselves, perhaps, but seldom have we taken the least delight in others' efforts.· Nor did they necessarily take any delight in the state-centred approach.· Stan seems to take a mischievous delight in turning up specimens under people's noses.· He seemed to take great delight in taking the church for a ride.· You take delight in vexing me.
PHRASES FROM THE ENTRYPHRASES FROM OTHER ENTRIES► be glad/delighted/pleased etc to see the back of somebody/something► hug yourself with joy/delight etc► you will be delighted/pleased etc to know (that)► be in a transport of delight/joy etc► be transported with delight/joy etc► unholy amusement/delight/pleasure
1[uncountable] a feeling of great pleasure and satisfactionwith/in delight- My dad took delight in calling me "The Big Ox" when I started growing taller than the other girls.
- But do I take delight in pushing you down, making you worse?
- Congressional wives take delight in pointing out that kind of error to their husbands.
- John, of course, had long since lost his northern accent and took delight in his appearance as the well-heeled businessman.
- Or a human parent will take delight in teaching their child to walk and talk and do so many things.
- The story of the purchase of Sarah's burial plot is comedy, and comedy frequently takes delight in debunking heroes.
- They remember you at your most awkward and unformed and they take delight in reminding you of it.
- You take delight in vexing me.
The kids were screaming with delight.to somebody’s delight/to the delight of somebody To the delight of his proud parents, he has made a full recovery.squeal/gasp/cry etc of delight She gave a little gasp of delight.► see thesaurus at pleasure2[countable] something that makes you feel very happy or satisfiedthe delights of something a chance to sample the delights of nearby Viennait is a delight to do something It was a delight to see him so fit and healthy.3take delight in (doing) something to enjoy something very much, especially something you should not do: Chris takes great delight in teasing his sister.COLLOCATIONSadjectivesgreat delight· It gave her great delight to tease him about his various girlfriends.sheer/pure delight (=very great)· She opened the present and laughed with sheer delight.obvious/evident (=easy to see)· Spencer was staring at the girl with obvious delight.verbstake/find delight in something (=enjoy something a lot)· He took delight in entertaining guests in his apartment.squeal/scream with delight· Lucy suddenly saw the sea and screamed with delight.laugh with delight· ‘That’s a brilliant idea’! she said, laughing with delight.greet something with delight· His suggestion was greeted with delight.phrasesa squeal/gasp/cry etc of delight· The child gave a squeal of delight.a source of delight (=something that gives great pleasure)· It’s a beautiful park and a source of delight to most visitors.much to somebody’s delight (also to somebody’s great delight) (=used to say that something gave someone a lot of pleasure)· The princess stopped to talk to people, much to the delight of the crowd.delight1 noundelight2 verb
delightdelight2 ●○○ verb [transitive] WORD ORIGINdelight2
Origin:
1200-1300 Old French delit, from Latin delectare ‘to please greatly’, from delicere ‘to attract’VERB TABLE
delight
| Simple Form | ||
| Present | I, you, we, they | delight |
| he, she, it | delights | |
| Past | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | delighted |
| Present perfect | I, you, we, they | have delighted |
| he, she, it | has delighted | |
| Past perfect | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | had delighted |
| Future | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | will delight |
| Future perfect | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | will have delighted |
| Continuous Form | ||
| Present | I | am delighting |
| he, she, it | is delighting | |
| you, we, they | are delighting | |
| Past | I, he, she, it | was delighting |
| you, we, they | were delighting | |
| Present perfect | I, you, we, they | have been delighting |
| he, she, it | has been delighting | |
| Past perfect | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | had been delighting |
| Future | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | will be delighting |
| Future perfect | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | will have been delighting |
EXAMPLES FROM OTHER DICTIONARIES
- This movie classic will delight the whole family.
- But nothing delights him more than his futures markets, which are something of a hangover from his trading days.
- Their decision to end cooperation will delight Belgrade.
Longman Language Activatorto enjoy something, especially something bad or wrong
to enjoy something that most people would not like: · Her job is very stressful, but she seems to revel in it.revel in doing something: · Tom seems to revel in disagreeing with everything I say.
to enjoy doing something, especially something that is difficult, dangerous, or unkind: · I love speaking to a large audience. I get a real kick out of it.get a kick out of doing something: · Maggie seems to get a big kick out of flirting with other people's husbands.
to very much enjoy doing something that is difficult or hurts other people: · Setting up your own business is never easy, but Frank relished the challenge.relish doing something: · The interviewer seemed to relish asking her personal questions.relish the chance/opportunity to do something: · I stayed with an Israeli family, and relished the chance to soak up their culture at ground-level.relish the thought/prospect/idea of doing something (=relish the idea of doing something in the future): · She clearly relished the prospect of breaking the news to them.· I really didn't relish the idea of being alone for two weeks.
to get pleasure from someone else's failure or bad luck, especially when you have been more successful or luckier than them: · "I told you that idea wouldn't work.'' "Well, there's no need to gloat.''gloat about/at/over: · Jane used to gloat over other people's misfortunes.· "What are you gloating about?" he said in an irritated voice.
to enjoy being sad, feeling sorry for yourself etc, especially in order to make people notice you and pay attention to you: wallow in grief/guilt/pity etc: · Since his girlfriend left him, he's been wallowing in self-pity.· Wallowing in angst at the unfairness of it all will only make the problem worse.
to enjoy doing something bad to other people: · Charlie's always bullying the smaller kids. He seems to take pleasure in it.take pleasure in doing something: · He appears to take pleasure in hurting her feelings.
to enjoy doing something that makes other people feel a little uncomfortable or embarrassed: · Most people delight in a bit of scandal, especially when it involves public figures.delight in doing something: · She's the kind of woman who delights in pointing out other people's mistakes.
COLLOCATIONS FROM OTHER ENTRIES The sight filled her with childlike excitement. the region’s culinary delights (=food that tastes very good) Here’s your chance to sample the delights of country life. She shivered with fear and anger. You should take pride in your work. At first, he took no interest in the baby. Dan gave a yell of delight when Larsson scored.COLLOCATIONS FROM THE CORPUSADVERB
The sight filled her with childlike excitement.· A rock was loose and he fell with a sharp cry of surprise.
the region’s culinary delights (=food that tastes very good)· ‘I've managed to fix it!’ she said, with a delighted grin.
formal (=react to the news in a particular way)· Fans greeted the news of the victory with a loud cheer.
· I was excited at the prospect of going to Washington.
· Lucinda flashed him a smile of pure joy.
Here’s your chance to sample the delights of country life.· She threw her head back and screamed with laughter.
· We could hear the children’s screams of laughter.
She shivered with fear and anger. You should take pride in your work. At first, he took no interest in the baby. Dan gave a yell of delight when Larsson scored.· After all, the role of the other woman was hardly one she delighted in.· There was nothing too small to delight in.· Gainsbourg seems to have delighted in his role as a cultural enfant terrible.· Interspersed are glosses on cyber-history of the sort that Time and Newsweek have been delighting in since the middle of 1995.
NOUN· Critchley then developed the alternative career that delighted the wide audience that enjoyed his witty political comment.· The delighted audience seemed not to notice.· Issey Miyake continues to delight audiences at his beautiful shows by determining his own uniquely futuristic fashion logic.· A decade later and it is still tackling the controversial issues and delighting its loyal audience.
· So we were delighted by the interested response of visitors.· However we have been delighted by the response so far.
VERB· Simple answers like this seem to delight younger kids, who demand a reason for everything.· His audiences seemed delighted with the new game of discovering the errors in earlier paintings.· Gainsbourg seems to have delighted in his role as a cultural enfant terrible.· Old Chao seemed genuinely delighted to see him.· The man is a huge liability and seems to delight in putting his feet right in it.· He seemed delighted to hear that she was fine.· Mr Gillis seemed to delight in slamming it down on the top of the tousled head below.· To Hugh she seemed beautiful and he delighted, somewhat guiltily, in having her eat opposite him.
PHRASES FROM OTHER ENTRIES► be glad/delighted/pleased etc to see the back of somebody/something► hug yourself with joy/delight etc► you will be delighted/pleased etc to know (that)► be in a transport of delight/joy etc► be transported with delight/joy etc► unholy amusement/delight/pleasure
to give someone great satisfaction and enjoyment: Her fabulous recipes will delight anyone who loves chocolate.delight somebody with something He is delighting audiences with his wit and humour.delight in something phrasal verb [transitive] to enjoy something very much, especially something that other people think is not nice: He delights in complicating everything.RegisterThe verb delight in is not usually used to talk about things that people like doing. Use enjoy or love instead:· I really enjoy the countryside.· She loves watching old movies.