treat

To behave towards someone or deal with something in a particular way.

• Please treat her kindly.
• They treated all the children fairly.
• Why do you treat my questions as jokes?

How to use it: treat someone like someone/something (They treat me like a child.); treat someone/something as someone/something (Please treat this information as a secret.)

Similar words: behandle, use

Common phrases: treat someone kindly, treat someone badly, treat someone fairly

To give medical care to a sick or injured person, or do something to improve their condition.

• Doctors treat sick people.
• The nurse treated my cut.
• Can this medicine treat the infection?

How to use it: treat someone for something (The doctor treated him for a chest infection.); treat something with something (They treated the infection with antibiotics.)

Similar words: care for

Common phrases: treat an illness, treat a patient, treat an infection

To use a substance or process on something to clean, protect, or change it.

• We treat the wood every spring.
• The water was treated before it reached our homes.
• They treat the metal with heat to make it stronger.

How to use it: treat something with something (Treat the wood with oil before using it.)

Similar words: process

Common phrases: treat wood, treat water, treat a surface

To discuss or show a subject in a particular way in speech or writing.

• The novel treats war seriously.
• Her article treated the issue as a moral question.
• The film treats a painful subject with gentle humour.

How to use it: treat something as something (The article treats education as a basic right.)

Similar words: present, portray

Common phrases: treat a subject, treat something seriously, treat something as

To discuss a subject in speech or writing.

• This essay treats of freedom.
• The lecture treated several difficult subjects.
• Her early writings treat of life in rural villages.

How to use it: treat of something (The final chapter treats of friendship.)

Similar words: discuss, address

Common phrases: treat of something, treat a subject

Something enjoyable that you have only occasionally.

• Ice cream is a special treat.
• We save these treats for weekends.
• Having a quiet morning was a real treat.

Similar words: pleasure, delight

Common phrases: a special treat, a real treat, an occasional treat

Something enjoyable, such as food or an outing, that someone gives or pays for.

• Lunch is my treat today.
• Dad bought us cakes as a treat.
• She organised a seaside trip as a treat for her parents.

How to use it: a treat for someone (The picnic was a treat for the children.)

Common phrases: my treat, a birthday treat, a treat for

An unexpected experience or gift that gives you great pleasure.

• Your visit was a lovely treat.
• It was a treat to see the garden in bloom.
• We enjoyed several unexpected treats during our stay.

How to use it: a treat to do something (It was a treat to hear her sing.)

Similar words: delight, pleasure

Common phrases: a lovely treat, a wonderful treat, a real treat