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Treat

 - 6 dictionary results

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, esp. 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)
9. to deal with a subject in speech or writing; discourse: a work that treats of the caste system in India.
10. to give, or bear the expense of, a treat: Is it my turn to treat?
11. to carry on negotiations with a view to a settlement; discuss terms of settlement; negotiate.
–noun
12. entertainment, food, drink, etc., given by way of compliment or as an expression of friendly regard.
13. anything that affords particular pleasure or enjoyment.
14. the act of treating.
15. one's turn to treat.

Origin:
1250–1300; ME treten (v.) < OF tretier, traitier < L tractāre to drag, handle, treat, freq. of trahere to drag. See tract 1


treater, noun
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
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treat   (trēt)   
v.   treat·ed, treat·ing, treats

v.   tr.
  1. To act or behave in a specified manner toward.

  2. To regard and handle in a certain way. Often used with as: treated the matter as a joke.

  3. To deal with in writing or speech; discuss: a book that treats all aspects of health care.

  4. To deal with or represent artistically in a specified manner or style: treats the subject poetically.

    1. To provide with food, entertainment, or gifts at one's own expense: treated her sister to the theater.

    2. To give (someone or oneself) something pleasurable: treated herself to a day in the country.

    3. To give medical aid to (someone): treated many patients in the emergency room.

    4. To give medical aid to counteract (a disease or condition): treated malaria with quinine.

  5. To subject to a process, action, or change, especially to a chemical or physical process or application.

    1. To give medical aid to (someone): treated many patients in the emergency room.

    2. To give medical aid to counteract (a disease or condition): treated malaria with quinine.

v.   intr.
  1. To deal with a subject or topic in writing or speech. Often used with of: The essay treats of courtly love.

  2. To pay for another's entertainment, food, or drink.

  3. To engage in negotiations, as to reach a settlement or agree on terms: "Both sides nonetheless are quite willing to treat with [the king]" (Gregory J. Wallance).

n.  
  1. Something, such as one's food or entertainment, that is paid for by someone else.

  2. A source of a special delight or pleasure: His trip abroad was a real treat.


[Middle English tretien, from Old French traitier, from Latin tractāre, frequentative of trahere, to draw.]
treat'er n.
Synonyms: These verbs mean to act in a specified way with regard to someone or something: treats his guests with courtesy; dealt rationally with the problem; handling a case with discretion.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Word Origin & History

treat  (v.)
1297, "negotiate, bargain, deal with," from O.Fr. traitier (12c.), from L. tractare "manage, handle, deal with," originally "drag about," frequentative of trahere (pp. tractus) "to pull, draw" (see tract (1)). Meaning "to entertain with food and drink by way of compliment or kindness (or bribery)" is recorded from c.1500. Sense of "deal with in speech or writing" (c.1325) led to the use in medicine (1781), "to attempt to heal or cure." The noun is first recorded 1375, "action of discussing terms;" sense of "a treating with food and drink" (1651) was extended by 1770 to "anything that gives pleasure." Treatment "conduct, behavior" is recorded from c.1560; in the medical sense, it is first recorded 1744.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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Medical Dictionary

Main Entry: treat
Pronunciation: 'trEt
Function: transitive verb
: to care for or deal with medically or surgically : deal with by medical orsurgical means <treated their diseases> <treats a patient>
Merriam-Webster's Medical Dictionary, © 2002 Merriam-Webster, Inc.
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Medical Dictionary

treat (trēt)
v. treat·ed, treat·ing, treats

  1. To give medical aid to someone.

  2. To give medical aid to counteract a disease or condition.

The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary
Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.
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Idioms & Phrases

treat

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

The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer.
Copyright © 1997. Published by Houghton Mifflin.
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