treat

[ treet ]

/ trit /

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See synonyms for: treat / treated / treating / treats on Thesaurus.com

verb (used with object)

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.

verb (used without object)

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.

noun

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.

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His boss, whom he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.

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Origin of treat

1250–1300; Middle English treten (v.) <Old French tretier,traitier<Latin tractāre to drag, handle, treat, frequentative of trahere to drag. See tract¹

OTHER WORDS FROM treat

treater, nounnon·treat·ed, adjectiveo·ver·treat, verbself-treated, adjective

un·treat·ed, adjectivewell-treated, adjective

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

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-Science
They 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 Post
From 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.
Five Must-Try Dishes in Casablanca, Morocco|Amanda Ponzio-Mouttaki|November 11, 2020|Eater
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.
Loving It Like a Local: Cape Town!|Barbara Fletcher|November 10, 2020|Ozy

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|DAILY BEAST
It 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|DAILY BEAST
Those who served abroad were treated with suspicion that they had been infected by European diplomacy.
U.S. Embassies Have Always Been for Sale|William O’Connor|January 2, 2015|DAILY BEAST
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|DAILY BEAST
He was treated like an immigrant, working for minimum wage, missing his family and having to move on from his musical career.
Cuban Hip-Hop Was Born in Alamar|Daniel Levin|December 26, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Every leader was killed, and every peaceful native whom the Spaniards met on their way was unmercifully treated.
The Philippine Islands|John Foreman
When treated with hydrochloric or acetic acid they slowly dissolve and rhombic crystals of uric acid appear.
A Manual of Clinical Diagnosis|James Campbell Todd
Interest on capital was treated merely as a particular case under the general theory of price.
The Unsolved Riddle of Social Justice|Stephen Leacock
Sometimes 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.
Blackwood's Edinburgh Magazine, Volume 60, No. 372, October 1846|Various

British Dictionary definitions for treat

treat

/ (triːt) /

noun

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

verb

(tr) to deal with or regard in a certain mannershe treats school as a joke

(tr) to apply treatment toto treat a patient for malaria

(tr) to subject to a process or to the application of a substanceto treat photographic film with developer

(tr ; often foll by to) to provide (someone) (with) as a treathe 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

Derived forms of treat

treatable, adjectivetreater, noun

Word Origin for treat

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

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

treat

In addition to the idiom beginning with treat

treat like dirt

also see:

Dutch treat
trick or treat

treat

Origin of treat

OTHER WORDS FROM treat

Words related to treat

How to use treat in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for treat

Derived forms of treat

Word Origin for treat

Other Idioms and Phrases with treat