treated

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2025

treat /trit/   v. 

1. to act or behave toward (someone or something) in some way:
   [~ + object] to treat all people with the respect they deserve.
2. to consider (someone or something) in a certain way:
   [~ + object + as + noun/adjective] treated this matter as important.
3. to deal with in a specified way;
   handle:
   [~ + object] The doctor treated his complaints seriously.
4. Medicine to deal with (a disease, etc.) to relieve or cure:
   [~ + object] new ways to treat AIDS.
5. to perform an action or process on (something) to bring about a result:
   [~ + object] to treat a substance with an acid.
6. to provide with food, entertainment, etc., at one's own expense: [~ + object]
   The boss treated me to dinner.
   [no object]
   Put your money away; I'll treat.
7. to deal with in speech, etc., esp. in a specified manner or style: [~ + object]
   treated the theme with fantasy.
   [~ + of + object]
   to treat of the problem in his book.

n. [countable]

8. entertainment, food, etc., given or paid for by someone else, as an expression of friendliness, as a professional courtesy, etc.
9. anything that provides enjoyment:
   It was a real treat back then to have steak for dinner.

treat•a•ble, adj. 

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

treat (trēt),  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. 

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.

n. 

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.

• Latin tractāre to drag, handle, treat, frequentative of trahere to drag. See tract¹
• Old French tretier, traitier
• Middle English treten (verb, verbal) 1250–1300

treat ′er, n. 

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

treat / triːt/ noun

1. a celebration, entertainment, gift, or feast given for or to someone and paid for by another
2. any delightful surprise or specially pleasant occasion
3. the act of treating

verb

1. (transitive) to deal with or regard in a certain manner: she treats school as a joke
2. (transitive) to apply treatment to: to treat a patient for malaria
3. (transitive) to subject to a process or to the application of a substance: to treat photographic film with developer
4. (tr; often followed by to) to provide (someone) (with) as a treat: he treated the children to a trip to the zoo
5. (intransitive) usually followed by of: to deal (with), as in writing or speaking
6. (intransitive) to discuss settlement; negotiate

Etymology: 13th Century: from Old French tretier, from Latin tractāre to manage, from trahere to drag

ˈtreatable adjective

ˈtreater noun