treat

[treet]

verb (used with object)

1. to act or behave toward (a person) in some specified way.

   to treat someone with respect.

2. to consider or regard in a specified way, and deal with accordingly.

   to treat a matter as unimportant.

3. to deal with (a disease, patient, etc.) in order to relieve or cure.

4. to deal with in speech or writing; discuss.

5. to deal with, develop, or represent artistically, especially in some specified manner or style.

   to treat a theme realistically.

6. to subject to some agent or action in order to bring about a particular result.

   to treat a substance with an acid.

7. to entertain; give hospitality to.

   He treats diplomats in the lavish surroundings of his country estate.

8. to provide food, entertainment, gifts, etc., at one's own expense.

   Let me treat you to dinner.

verb (used without object)

1. to deal with a subject in speech or writing; discourse.

   a work that treats of the caste system in India.

2. to give, or bear the expense of, a treat.

   Is it my turn to treat?

3. to carry on negotiations with a view to a settlement; discuss terms of settlement; negotiate.

noun

1. entertainment, food, drink, etc., given by way of compliment or as an expression of friendly regard.

2. anything that affords particular pleasure or enjoyment.

3. the act of treating.

4. one's turn to treat.

treat

/ triːt /

noun

1. a celebration, entertainment, gift, or feast given for or to someone and paid for by another

2. any delightful surprise or specially pleasant occasion

3. the act of treating

verb

1. (tr) to deal with or regard in a certain manner

   she treats school as a joke

2. (tr) to apply treatment to

   to treat a patient for malaria

3. (tr) to subject to a process or to the application of a substance

   to treat photographic film with developer

4. (tr; often foll by to) to provide (someone) (with) as a treat

   he treated the children to a trip to the zoo

5. formal,  to deal (with), as in writing or speaking

6. formal,  (intr) to discuss settlement; negotiate

Other Word Forms

• treatable adjective
• treater noun
• nontreated adjective
• overtreat verb
• self-treated adjective
• untreated adjective
• well-treated adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of treat¹

First recorded in 1250–1300; Middle English verb treten, from Old French tretier, traitier, from Latin tractāre “to drag, handle, treat,” frequentative of trahere “to drag”; tract ¹

Word History and Origins

Origin of treat¹

C13: from Old French tretier , from Latin tractāre to manage, from trahere to drag

Idioms and Phrases

• Dutch treat
• trick or treat

Example Sentences

Some work has been done to reduce fuels in the roughly 100-acre stretch of forest, but not all areas were treated.

From Los Angeles Times

Ads for VPNs are also banned, and while using these apps is not illegal, it may now be treated as an aggravating factor in criminal cases.

From BBC

The commission found that Monguia “failed in a number of ways, to treat the defendant and attorneys with courtesy and respect during this hearing.”

From Los Angeles Times

Even the kinder ones who persuade her and Andy to join them on a scavenging run to what looks like an abandoned space station treat him as expendable.

From Salon

Ms Trujillo was treated by emergency workers and paramedics but was pronounced dead at the scene.

From BBC

Related Words

• conduct 
• consider 
• deal with 
• employ 
• evaluate 
• handle 
• hold 
• look upon www.thesaurus.com
• manage 
• play 
• regard 
• respect 
• serve 
• take 
• use