Definition of "treat"

treat

/tɹiːt/

verb
third-person singular simple present treats, present participle treating, simple past and past participle treated
1. (intransitive) To negotiate, discuss terms, bargain (for or with).
  Quotations
  Now halting a few paces before the Captains of the West he looked them up and down and laughed. 'Is there any in this rout with authority to treat with me?' he asked.
  1955, J. R. R. Tolkien, The Return of the King, George Allen & Unwin
  After all, in this hideous war we have just passed through never forget that Halifax would have treated with Hitler: it took Churchill to refuse.
  1985, Lawrence Durrell, Quinx, Faber & Faber
  I wouldn't promote businesses I considered immoral – ambulance-chasing lawyers or online roulette for example – but I've got nothing against computer or software manufacture: they're important and any reputable company in that industry is welcome to treat for my services.
  2010 June 6, David Mitchell, The Observer
2. (intransitive) To discourse; to handle a subject in writing or speaking; to conduct a discussion.
  Quotations
  Now of love they treat.
  1667, John Milton, “Book X”, in Paradise Lost. […], London: […] [Samuel Simmons], […]; republished as Paradise Lost in Ten Books: […], London: Basil Montagu Pickering […], 1873,
  And, indeed, should the excellent Mr Broughton be prevailed on to set fist to paper, and to complete the above-said rudiments, by delivering down the true principles of athletics, I question whether the world will have any cause to lament, that none of the great writers, either antient or modern, have ever treated about that noble and useful art.
  1749, Henry Fielding, The History of Tom Jones, a Foundling
  Rhetoric includes the earliest known theory on the proper use of metaphor; On Poetics treats the role of symbolism in drama and poetry.
  1981, Aristotle, translated by W. Rhys Roberts and Ingram Bywater, Rhetoric and On Poetics, Pennsylvania: The Franklin Library, A Note on the Illustrations
3. (transitive) To discourse on; to represent or deal with in a particular way, in writing or speaking.
4. (transitive, intransitive, obsolete) To entreat or beseech (someone).
  Quotations
  To treate a tiran it is but thing in vayne.
  1515, Alexander Barclay, Eclogues
5. (transitive) To handle, deal with or behave towards in a specific way.
6. (transitive) To entertain with food or drink, especially at one's own expense; to show hospitality to; to pay for as celebration or reward.
7. (UK politics, law) To commit the offence of providing food, drink, entertainment or provision to corruptly influence a voter.
8. (transitive) To care for medicinally or surgically; to apply medical care to.
  Quotations
  We treated firefighters suffering from smoke inhalation, giving them oxygen to breathe and albuterol mist to help open their airways.
  2018, Sandeep Jauhar, Heart: a History, page 204
9. (transitive) To subject to a chemical or other action; to act upon with a specific scientific result in mind.
10. To provide something special and pleasant.
  Quotations
  The Chelsea captain was a virtual spectator as he was treated to his side's biggest win for almost two years as Stamford Bridge serenaded him with chants of "there's only one England captain," some 48 hours after he announced his retirement from international football.
  2012, Chelsea 6-0 Wolves‎
noun
plural treats
1. An entertainment, outing, food, drink, or other indulgence provided by someone for the enjoyment of others.
2. An unexpected gift, event etc., which provides great pleasure.
3. A snack food item designed to be given to pets.
4. (obsolete) A parley or discussion of terms; a negotiation.
5. (obsolete) An entreaty.