paradise

UK: /ˈpærədaɪs/

US: /ˈpærəˌdaɪs, -ˌdaɪz/

US: (par′ə dīs′, -dīz′)

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2025

par•a•dise /ˈpærəˌdaɪs, -ˌdaɪz/   n. 

1. [proper noun* no article] heaven, the final resting place of good people when they die.
2. a place of great beauty or happiness:
   [countable] went to an island paradise for our vacation.
3. a state of supreme happiness:
   [uncountable] All the boys thought a date with her would be paradise.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

par•a•dise  (par′ə dīs′, -dīz′), n. 

1. heaven, as the final abode of the righteous.
2. an intermediate place for the departed souls of the righteous awaiting resurrection.
3. Bible (often cap.) Eden (def. 1).
4. a place of extreme beauty, delight, or happiness.
5. a state of supreme happiness; bliss.
6. Architecture
   • parvis.
   • an enclosure beside a church, as an atrium or cloister.

(cap., italics) Italian, Pa•ra•di•so  (pä′rä dē′zô). the third and concluding part of Dante's Divine Comedy, depicting heaven, through which he is guided by Beatrice. Cf. inferno (def. 3), purgatory (def. 2).

• Iranian; compare Avestan pairi-daēza enclosure
• Greek parádeisos park, pleasure-grounds
• Late Latin paradīsus
• Middle English, Old English paradīs bef. 1000

Par•a•dise  (par′ə dīs′, -dīz′), n. 

1. Place Names a town in N California. 22,571.

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

paradise / ˈpærəˌdaɪs/ noun

1. heaven as the ultimate abode or state of the righteous
2. the sensual garden of delights that the Koran promises the faithful after death
3. Also called: limbo (according to some theologians) the intermediate abode or state of the just prior to the Resurrection of Jesus, as in Luke 23:43
4. any place or condition that fulfils all one's desires or aspirations
5. a park in which foreign animals are kept

Etymology: Old English, from Church Latin paradīsus, from Greek paradeisos garden, of Persian origin; compare Avestan pairidaēza enclosed area, from pairi- around + daēza wall