joy

[ joi ]
/ dʒɔɪ /

noun

the emotion of great delight or happiness caused by something exceptionally good or satisfying; keen pleasure; elation: She felt the joy of seeing her son's success.
a source or cause of keen pleasure or delight; something or someone greatly valued or appreciated: Her prose style is a pure joy.
the expression or display of glad feeling; festive gaiety.
a state of happiness or felicity.

verb (used without object)

to feel joy; be glad; rejoice.

verb (used with object)

Obsolete. to gladden.

Origin of joy

1175–1225; Middle English joy(e) < Old French joie, joye < Late Latin gaudia, neuter plural (taken as feminine singular) of Latin gaudium joy, equivalent to gaud- (base of gaudēre to be glad) + -ium -ium

OTHER WORDS FROM joy

un·joyed, adjective

Definition for joy (2 of 2)

Joy

or Joye

[ joi ]
/ dʒɔɪ /

noun

a female given name.

Example sentences from the Web for joy

British Dictionary definitions for joy

joy
/ (dʒɔɪ) /

noun

a deep feeling or condition of happiness or contentment
something causing such a feeling; a source of happiness
an outward show of pleasure or delight; rejoicing
British informal success; satisfaction I went to the bank for a loan, but got no joy

verb

(intr) to feel joy
(tr) obsolete to make joyful; gladden

Word Origin for joy

C13: from Old French joie, from Latin gaudium joy, from gaudēre to be glad

Idioms and Phrases with joy

joy

see burst with (joy); pride and joy.