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treat definition

treat (trēt)

intransitive verb

  1. to discuss terms (with a person or for a settlement); negotiate
  2. to deal with a subject in writing or speech; speak or write (of)
  3. to stand the cost of another's or others' entertainment

Etymology: ME treten < OFr traiter, to handle, meddle, treat < L tractare, freq. of trahere, to draw

transitive verb

  1. to deal with (a subject) in writing, speech, music, painting, etc., esp. in a specified manner or style
  2. to act or behave toward (a person, animal, etc.) in a specified manner
  3. to have a specified attitude toward and deal with accordingly to treat a mistake as a joke
    1. to pay for the food, drink, entertainment, etc. of (another or others)
    2. to provide with something that pleases
  5. to subject to some process or to some substance in processing, as in a chemical procedure
  6. to give medical or surgical care to (someone) or for (some disorder)

noun

  1. a meal, drink, entertainment, etc. paid for by someone else
  2. anything that gives great pleasure
    1. the act of treating or entertaining
    2. one's turn to treat

Related Forms:

Webster's New World College Dictionary Copyright © 2005 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

Alternate definitions:

idioms treat idiom

medical treat definition - medical

treat Synonyms

treat

n.

entertainment, surprise, amusement, free passage, feast, delectable dish, source of gratification, gift, setup*, beano*, spree*.


treat

v.

  1. To deal with a person or thing

    negotiate, manage, have to do with, have business with, behave toward, handle, make terms with, act toward, react toward, use, employ, have recourse to.

    Antonyms neglect*, ignore*, have nothing to do with.

  2. To deal with a subject

    talk of, write of, speak of, discourse upon, arrange, manipulate, comment, interpret, explain, enlarge upon, criticize, discuss, review, approach, tackle*.

  3. To assist toward a cure

    attend, administer, prescribe, dose, operate, nurse, dress, minister to, apply therapy, care for, doctor*; see also heal 1.

  4. To pay for another's entertainment

    entertain, indulge, satisfy, amuse, divert, play host to, escort, set up*, blow*, stake to*, stand to*.


Webster's New World Roget's A-Z Thesaurus Copyright © 1999 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

treat Usage Examples

Object

  • patient: Patients treated here will benefit from state of the art surgical equipment in a purpose built facility.

Adjective modifier

  • tasty: Each lovely bright bone comes complete with tasty treats.

Adjective complement

  • confidential: We will treat all complaints seriously, and all information given to us will be treated as confidential.

Present participle complement

  • accord: Victims who feel they have not been treated according to the code have the right to possible compensation through the office of the Ombudsman.

Preposition: in

  • confidence: Any information given will be treat in utmost confidence.

Preposition: with

  • caution: However, all such contacts need to be treated with caution.

Preposition: for

  • inhalation: The three terrified residents were taken by paramedics to Arrowe Park hospital where the two men were treated for smoke inhalation.
treat usage examples (more)

The word usage examples above have been gathered from various sources to reflect current and historical usage. They do not represent the opinions of YourDictionary.com.

treat quotes

Any old iron, any old iron, Anyany old old iron? You look neat Talk about a treat, You look dapper from your napper to your feet. Dressed in style, brand new tile, And your father's old green tie on, But I wouldn't give you tuppence for your old watch chain; Old iron, old iron?

-Collins, Charles

Success is feminine and like a woman; if you cringe beforeher shewill override you. Sotheway totreat her is to show her the back of your hand. Then maybe she will do the crawling.

-Faulkner,William Harrison

There are only twelve notes.You must treat them carefully.

-Hindemith, Paul

treat quotes (more)

Webster's New World Dictionary of Quotations Copyright © 2005 by Chambers Harrap Publishers Ltd. All rights reserved. Published by Wiley, Hoboken, NJ. Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

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MLA Style

"treat." Webster's New World College Dictionary. 2009

  • Your Dictionary. 4 July 2009
  • <www.yourdictionary.com/treat>

APA Style

treat. (2009). In Webster's New World College Dictionary

  • Retrieved July 4th, 2009, from www.yourdictionary.com/treat

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