# treat

/ˈtɹit/ (US) · /tɹˈiːt/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/treat
Updated: 2026-06-19

## Senses

### 1. to behave toward someone

verb · CEFR A2

to behave toward someone or deal with something in a specific way.

For teachers: to behave toward or deal with a person or thing in a specified manner. Transitive — requires an object and usually an adverbial of manner.

- You should always treat other people with respect and kindness.
- The manager was criticized for the way he treated his subordinates during the restructuring process.

### 2. medical care

verb · CEFR A2

to give medical care to a person or an illness.

For teachers: to provide medical or surgical care to a patient or to address a specific pathological condition.

- The doctor used a new cream to treat the boy's skin allergy.
- Medical professionals are exploring innovative ways to treat chronic inflammation without relying solely on traditional steroid therapies.

### 3. to pay for someone

verb · CEFR B1

to buy or provide something special for someone else.

For teachers: to provide someone with food, drink, or entertainment at one's own expense as a gesture of hospitality or celebration.

- I will treat you to lunch since it is your birthday today.
- To celebrate the successful merger, the CEO decided to treat the entire department to a weekend retreat at a luxury resort.

Usage: Often used with the preposition 'to'.

### 4. chemical/scientific process

verb · CEFR B2 · Technical

to use a chemical or a special process on something to change it.

For teachers: to subject a substance or object to a chemical or physical process to improve its properties or achieve a specific result.

- The wood was treated with a special oil to protect it from the rain.
- The raw sewage must be treated extensively before it can be safely discharged back into the local river system.

### 5. to discuss a subject

verb · CEFR C1 · Formal · Academic

to write or speak about a subject in a serious way.

For teachers: to deal with or discourse upon a subject in writing or speech. Often used with 'of' in older or very formal contexts.

- The book treats the history of the city in great detail.
- The final chapter of the thesis treats the ethical implications of artificial intelligence in modern surveillance states.

### 6. a special pleasure

noun · CEFR A2

something special that you do or buy for yourself or someone else.

For teachers: an event, item, or entertainment that provides great pleasure, especially one that is infrequent or unexpected.

- Going to the cinema was a real treat for the children.
- After a grueling week of exams, a quiet afternoon at the spa felt like an absolute treat.

### 7. a snack

noun · CEFR A2

a small piece of food that tastes very good, often given to pets or children.

For teachers: a small portion of food, often sweet or savory, given as a reward or consumed as an indulgence.

- The dog sat patiently waiting for his owner to give him a treat.
- The bakery specializes in artisanal treats that use organic honey instead of refined sugar.

## Examples

- We went to the cinema as a special treat.
- After working hard all week, she decided to buy a box of expensive chocolates as a treat for herself.
- The annual trip to the seaside was considered the ultimate treat for the children, who spent months saving their pocket money in anticipation of the event.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.