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.
   intrusually foll byof to deal (with), as in writing or speaking
6. formal.
   intr to discuss settlement; negotiate

Derived Forms

• ˈtreatable, adjective
• ˈtreater, noun

Other Words From

• treater noun
• non·treated adjective
• over·treat verb
• self-treated adjective
• un·treated adjective
• well-treated 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

In addition to the idiom beginning with treat , also see Dutch treat ; trick or treat .

Related Words

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