v.
- behave towards or deal with in a certain way.
▸present or discuss (a subject).
- give medical care or attention to.
- apply a process or a substance to.
-
(treat someone to)
provide someone with (food, drink, or entertainment) at one's expense.
▸
(treat oneself)
do or have something very pleasurable.
-
(usu. treat with)
negotiate terms.
n.
- a surprise gift, event, etc. that gives great pleasure.
-
(one's treat)
an act of treating someone to something.
- N. Amer. a sweet, biscuit, or other sweet item of food.
Phrase
Derivative
- treatable adj.
- treater n.
Etymology
ME: from OFr. traitier, from L. tractare ‘handle’, frequentative of trahere ‘draw, pull’.