treat
B1Pronunciation
UK
- /trˈiːt/
US
- /ˈtrit/
Description
- behave toward
- something special or sweet
- pay for someone
- give medical care
- handle in a particular way
To treat someone means to act toward them in a certain way, often kindly or fairly. It can also mean paying for something for another person, as in "I'll treat you to lunch." As a noun, a treat is something special and enjoyable, like a piece of cake or a fun day out. The word is also common in health, where it means giving care for an illness or injury. In everyday English, it is a flexible word for the way we act, give, enjoy, or care.
The word "treat" is a very flexible word in English. Most often, to treat means to behave toward someone in a particular way. You can treat people kindly, badly, fairly, or with respect. It can also mean paying for something as a gift or kind act, as in "She treated her friend to dinner."
As a noun, a treat is something enjoyable or special. It is often food, like ice cream or chocolate, but it can also be an experience, such as a trip, a movie, or a quiet break after hard work. In this sense, it often suggests a small reward or pleasure.
The word also has practical uses. In medicine, to treat means to give care for an illness, injury, or condition: "The doctor treated the infection." When talking about things, it can mean handling something in a certain way or putting a substance on it to protect or change it: "Treat this glass with care" or "They treated the wood to keep water out." Altogether, "treat" can describe the way you act toward people, the special things you enjoy, the care you give, and the way you handle something.
Examples
- 1
Workplace respect
He always treats his staff with respect.
- 2
Personal boundary
Don't treat me like a child.
- 3
Hospitality
They treated us to dinner after the game.
Pattern
treat someone to + something
pay for something special for them
- 4
Medical care
The doctor is treating her for asthma.
Pattern
treat someone for + illness
give medical care for it
- 5
Serious issue
The school treats bullying as a serious problem.
Pattern
treat something as + description
consider it in that way
- 6
Self-reward
After a long week, she treated herself to a massage.
Pattern
treat yourself to + something
give yourself something special
- 7
Birthday food
We usually have cake as a birthday treat.
- 8
Enjoyable experience
Seeing the city covered in snow was a real treat.
Meaning
a treat
something enjoyable
- 9
Paying offer
Put your card away. It's my treat.
Phrase
It's my treat
I will pay
Forms and spellings
4 forms open this card.
Main spelling
- treatnounverb
Forms
- treatedpast tenseverbnoun
- treating-ing formverbnoun
- treatspluralnounverb