treat: Meaning and Definition of

treat

Pronunciation: (trēt), [key]
— v.t.
  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.
—v.i.
  1. to deal with a subject in speech or writing; discourse: a work that treats of the caste system in India.
  2. to give, or bear the expense of, a treat: Is it my turn to treat?
  3. to carry on negotiations with a view to a settlement; discuss terms of settlement; negotiate.
—n.
  1. entertainment, food, drink, etc., given by way of compliment or as an expression of friendly regard.
  2. anything that affords particular pleasure or enjoyment.
  3. the act of treating.
  4. one's turn to treat.
Random House Unabridged Dictionary, Copyright © 1997, by Random House, Inc., on Infoplease.
See also: