verb

treat

treet

verb

To behave toward someone or something in a particular way.

"She treats her employees with respect."

To give medical care to a person or condition.

"The doctor treated the wound and sent him home."

To pay for someone's food, drink, or entertainment as a gift.

"Let me treat you to dinner for your birthday."

noun

Something special and enjoyable, often a snack or small gift.

"The kids got a treat for finishing their homework."

How to Use Treat

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishTo treat someone is to act toward them a certain way, give them medical care, or pay for something nice for them; a treat (noun) is that nice thing itself.

Common pairings

treat someone well treat a patient treat yourself a special treat

Word Forms

treated past tense, tret past tense, treat plural, treated plural, treats plural, Treats plural, treats singular, treat singular, treated singular, treatest singular, treatedst singular, treateth singular

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Fill the Gap

Can you complete this real example?

She _____ her employees with respect.

Etymology

From Old French traitier, ultimately from Latin tractāre, "to handle or manage" — related to "tract" and "traction."

Rhymes for treat

eat meat feat beat peat heat seat teat neat sweat wheat great

See all rhymes for treat →