/ dʒɔɪ; NAmE / noun
1.
[ U ] a feeling of great happiness
SYN delight :
the sheer joy of being with her again
to dance for / with joy
I didn't expect them to jump for joy at the news (= to be very pleased) .
To his great joy, she accepted.
➡ note at pleasure
2.
[ C ] a person or thing that causes you to feel very happy :
the joys of fatherhood
The game was a joy to watch.
3.
[ U ] ( BrE , informal ) (in questions and negative sentences) success or satisfaction :
We complained about our rooms but got no joy from the manager.
'Any joy at the shops?' 'No, they didn't have what I wanted.'
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IDIOMS
- full of the joys of spring
—more at pride noun
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WORD ORIGIN
Middle English : from Old French joie , based on Latin gaudium , from gaudere rejoice.