treat
to act or behave toward (a person) in some specified way: to treat someone with respect.
to consider or regard in a specified way, and deal with accordingly: to treat a matter as unimportant.
to deal with (a disease, patient, etc.) in order to relieve or cure.
to deal with in speech or writing; discuss.
to deal with, develop, or represent artistically, especially in some specified manner or style: to treat a theme realistically.
to subject to some agent or action in order to bring about a particular result: to treat a substance with an acid.
to entertain; give hospitality to: He treats diplomats in the lavish surroundings of his country estate.
to provide food, entertainment, gifts, etc., at one's own expense: Let me treat you to dinner.
to deal with a subject in speech or writing; discourse: a work that treats of the caste system in India.
to give, or bear the expense of, a treat: Is it my turn to treat?
to carry on negotiations with a view to a settlement; discuss terms of settlement; negotiate.
entertainment, food, drink, etc., given by way of compliment or as an expression of friendly regard.
anything that affords particular pleasure or enjoyment.
the act of treating.
one's turn to treat.
Origin of treat
1Other words from treat
- treater, noun
- non·treat·ed, adjective
- o·ver·treat, verb
- self-treated, adjective
- un·treat·ed, adjective
- well-treated, adjective
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024
How to use treat in a sentence
This makes for a perfect gift during the holidays—or a treat for yourself.
This $44 reusable smart notebook connects to the cloud | Stack Commerce | November 20, 2020 | Popular-ScienceThey created a Facebook group called “Cookies for Caregivers,” thinking maybe a handful of people in the Huntingdon community might volunteer to bake treats for essential workers on a regular basis.
It started as a macho bake-off between dads. Months later, they’ve delivered 15,000 cookies to essential workers. | Sydney Page | November 20, 2020 | Washington PostFrom slow-cooked snails in a spiced broth to the fruity treat zaazaa, these are five place-defining plates for visitorsAs the melting pot of Morocco, Casablanca isn’t known for one signature dish.
For sweet treats snag a bag of koeksisters — plaited golden doughnuts that are crisp on the outside, slightly chewy on the inside and slathered in sweet syrup.
Fresh-squeezed orange juice is a treat on its own, but you can make it a more dramatic affair by using ruby blood orange juice and combining it with bourbon, sweet vermouth and Campari.
Harness the bright sweetness of oranges in these 7 recipes | Kari Sonde | November 9, 2020 | Washington Post
A couple of people were treated for minor injuries but no major incidents occurred.
Slow Motion Tiger Jump, a Tornado at the Rose Bowl and More Viral Videos | The Daily Beast Video | January 4, 2015 | THE DAILY BEASTIt was original in how it treated Nixon and his connection to the right before 1968.
Thank Congress, Not LBJ for Great Society | Julian Zelizer, Scott Porch | January 4, 2015 | THE DAILY BEASTThose who served abroad were treated with suspicion that they had been infected by European diplomacy.
How is this at all compatible with how your parents treated you?
Dear Leelah, We Will Fight On For You: A Letter to a Dead Trans Teen | Parker Molloy | January 1, 2015 | THE DAILY BEASTHe was treated like an immigrant, working for minimum wage, missing his family and having to move on from his musical career.
Every leader was killed, and every peaceful native whom the Spaniards met on their way was unmercifully treated.
The Philippine Islands | John ForemanWhen treated with hydrochloric or acetic acid they slowly dissolve and rhombic crystals of uric acid appear.
A Manual of Clinical Diagnosis | James Campbell ToddInterest on capital was treated merely as a particular case under the general theory of price.
The Unsolved Riddle of Social Justice | Stephen LeacockSometimes he looks at me as if he were going to break out with that crazy idea to which he treated me the other day.
Confidence | Henry James"Not so, Seor Conde; the man who has treated her so nobly has the best right to her," said the General.
British Dictionary definitions for treat
/ (triːt) /
a celebration, entertainment, gift, or feast given for or to someone and paid for by another
any delightful surprise or specially pleasant occasion
the act of treating
(tr) to deal with or regard in a certain manner: she treats school as a joke
(tr) to apply treatment to: to treat a patient for malaria
(tr) to subject to a process or to the application of a substance: to treat photographic film with developer
(tr ; often foll by to) to provide (someone) (with) as a treat: he treated the children to a trip to the zoo
(intr usually foll by of) formal to deal (with), as in writing or speaking
(intr) formal to discuss settlement; negotiate
Origin of treat
1Derived forms of treat
- treatable, adjective
- treater, noun
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
Other Idioms and Phrases with treat
In addition to the idiom beginning with treat
- treat like dirt
also see:
- Dutch treat
- trick or treat
The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
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