treat

Definition from Wiktionary, the free dictionary
Jump to: navigation, search

Contents

[edit] English

[edit] Etymology

From Anglo-Norman treter, Old French tretier, from Latin tractare (to pull", "to manage), from the past participle stem of trahere (to draw", "to pull).

[edit] Pronunciation

[edit] Verb

treat (third-person singular simple present treats, present participle treating, simple past and past participle treated or, in (roughly, Yorkshire) dialect, tret)

  1. (intransitive) To negotiate, discuss terms, bargain (for or with). [from 13th c.]
    • 2010, David Mitchell, The Observer, 6 Jun 2010:
      I wouldn't promote businesses I considered immoral – ambulance-chasing lawyers or online roulette for example – but I've got nothing against computer or software manufacture: they're important and any reputable company in that industry is welcome to treat for my services.
  2. (intransitive) To discourse; to handle a subject in writing or speaking; to conduct a discussion. [from 14th c.]
    Cicero's writing treats mainly of old age and personal duty.
  3. (transitive) To discourse on; to represent or deal with in a particular way, in writing or speaking. [from 14th c.]
    The article treated feminism as a quintessentially modern movement.
  4. (transitive, intransitive, obsolete) To entreat or beseech (someone). [14th-17th c.]
    Only let my family live, I treat thee.
  5. (transitive) To handle, deal with or behave towards in a specific way. [from 14th c.]
    You treated me like a fool.
    She was tempted to treat the whole affair as a joke.
  6. (transitive) To entertain with food or drink, especially at one's own expense; to show hospitality to. [from 16th c.]
    I treated my son to some popcorn in the interval.
  7. (transitive) To care for medicinally or surgically; to apply medical care to. [from 18th c.]
    They treated me for malaria.
  8. (transitive) To subject to a chemical or other action; to act upon with a specific scientific result in mind. [from 19th c.]
    The substance was treated with sulphuric acid.
    I treated the photo somewhat to make the colours more pronounced.

[edit] Derived terms

[edit] Related terms

[edit] Translations

[edit] Noun

treat (plural treats)

  1. An entertainment, outing, or other indulgence provided by someone for the enjoyment of others.
    I took the kids to the zoo for a treat.
  2. An unexpected gift, event etc., which provides great pleasure.
    It was such a treat to see her back in action on the London stage.
  3. (obsolete) A parley or discussion of terms; a negotiation.
  4. (obsolete) An entreaty.

[edit] Translations

[edit] Anagrams

Personal tools
Namespaces
Variants
Views
Actions
Navigation
Toolbox
In other languages