Etimology
From Middle English treten, from Anglo-Norman treter, Old French tretier, traiter, from Latin tractāre (“to pull", "to manage”), from the past participle stem of trahere (“to draw", "to pull”).
verb
treat (third-person singular simple present treats, present participle treating, simple past and past participle treated or (Northern England, Bristol, colloquial) tret)
(intransitive) To negotiate, discuss terms, bargain (for or with). [from 13th c.]
(intransitive) To discourse; to handle a subject in writing or speaking; to conduct a discussion. [from 14th c.]
(transitive) To discourse on; to represent or deal with in a particular way, in writing or speaking. [from 14th c.]
(transitive, intransitive, obsolete) To entreat or beseech (someone). [14th–17th c.]
(transitive) To handle, deal with or behave towards in a specific way. [from 14th c.]
(transitive) To entertain with food or drink, especially at one's own expense; to show hospitality to; to pay for as celebration or reward. [from 16th c.]
(UK politics, law) To commit the offence of providing food, drink, entertainment or provision to corruptly influence a voter.
(transitive) To care for medicinally or surgically; to apply medical care to. [from 18th c.]
(transitive) To subject to a chemical or other action; to act upon with a specific scientific result in mind. [from 19th c.]
To provide something special and pleasant.
Examples
Now halting a few paces before the Captains of the West he looked them up and down and laughed. 'Is there any in this rout with authority to treat with me?' he asked.
After all, in this hideous war we have just passed through never forget that Halifax would have treated with Hitler: it took Churchill to refuse.
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.
Cicero's writing treats mainly of old age and personal duty.
Now of love they treat.
And, indeed, should the excellent Mr Broughton be prevailed on to set fist to paper, and to complete the above-said rudiments, by delivering down the true principles of athletics, I question whether the world will have any cause to lament, that none of the great writers, either antient or modern, have ever treated about that noble and useful art.
Rhetoric includes the earliest known theory on the proper use of metaphor; On Poetics treats the role of symbolism in drama and poetry.
The article treated feminism as a quintessentially modern movement.
Only let my family live, I treat thee.
To treate a tiran it is but thing in vayne.
You treated me like a fool.
She was tempted to treat the whole affair as a joke.
I treated my son to some popcorn in the interval.
I've done so well this month, I'll treat you all to dinner
My husband treated me to a Paris holiday for our anniversary.
They treated me for malaria.
We treated firefighters suffering from smoke inhalation, giving them oxygen to breathe and albuterol mist to help open their airways.
He treated the substance with sulphuric acid.
I treated the photo somewhat to make the colours more pronounced.
The Chelsea captain was a virtual spectator as he was treated to his side's biggest win for almost two years as Stamford Bridge serenaded him with chants of "there's only one England captain," some 48 hours after he announced his retirement from international football.
Related words
synonyms
(to deal with in a very specific way): behandle
(give medical care or attention to): leech, make better
related terms
treatise
treaty
noun
treat (plural treats)
An entertainment, outing, food, drink, or other indulgence provided by someone for the enjoyment of others.
An unexpected gift, event etc., which provides great pleasure.
A snack food item designed to be given to pets.
(obsolete) A parley or discussion of terms; a negotiation.
(obsolete) An entreaty.
Examples
I took the kids to the zoo for a treat.
Here are some healthy Halloween treats for ghouls and witches of all ages.
It was such a treat to see her back in action on the London stage.
I lured the cat into her carrier by throwing a couple of treats in there.