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Definition of treat noun from the Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary

treat

noun
 
/triːt/
 
/triːt/
Idioms
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  1. something very pleasant that somebody can enjoy, especially something that you give somebody or do for them
    • When I was young chocolate was a treat.
    • as a treat We took the kids to the zoo as a special treat.
    • in for a treat You've never been to this area before? Then you're in for a real treat.
    • Let's go out for lunch—my treat (= I will pay).
    Synonyms pleasurepleasuredelight ▪ joy ▪ privilege ▪ treat ▪ honourThese are all words for things that make you happy or that you enjoy.pleasure a thing that makes you happy or satisfied:
    • the pleasures and pains of everyday life
    • It’s been a pleasure meeting you.
    delight a thing or person that brings you great pleasure:
    • the delights of living in the country
    joy a thing or person that brings you great pleasure or happiness:
    • the joys and sorrows of childhood
     pleasure, delight or joy?A delight or joy is greater than a pleasure; a person, especially a child, can be a delight or joy, but not a pleasure; joys are often contrasted with sorrows, but delights are not.privilege (rather formal) something that you are proud and lucky to have the opportunity to do:
    • It was a great privilege to hear her sing.
    treat (informal) a thing that somebody enjoyed or is likely to enjoy very much:
    • You’ve never been to this area before? Then you’re in for a real treat.
    honour (formal) something that you are very pleased or proud to do because people are showing you great respect:
    • It was a great honour to be invited here today.
    Patterns
    • the pleasures/​delights/​joys of something
    • It’s a great pleasure/​joy to me that…
    • It’s a pleasure/​delight/​joy/​privilege/​treat/​honour to do something
    • It’s a pleasure/​delight/​joy to see/​find…
    • a pleasure/​delight/​joy to behold/​watch
    • a real pleasure/​delight/​joy/​privilege/​treat
    • a great pleasure/​joy/​privilege/​honour
    • a rare joy/​privilege/​treat/​honour
    Extra Examples
    • Snails are a tasty treat for hedgehogs.
    • If you have never seen one of these fish then you have missed a treat.
    • If their latest album is half as good as their last one, we've a real treat in store.
    Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadjective
    • big
    • great
    • real
    • …
    verb + treat
    • give somebody
    • deserve
    • get
    • …
    preposition
    • as a treat
    • for a treat
    phrases
    • be in for a treat
    • have a treat in store
    See full entry
    Word OriginMiddle English (in the senses ‘negotiate’ and ‘discuss a subject’): from Old French traitier, from Latin tractare ‘handle’, frequentative of trahere ‘draw, pull’. The current noun sense dates from the mid 17th cent.
Idioms
a treat
  1. (British English, informal) extremely well or good
    • His idea worked a treat (= was successful).
    • I don’t know whether she can act but she looks a treat.
trick or treat
  1. said by children who visit people’s houses at Halloween and threaten to play tricks on people who do not give them sweets
See treat in the Oxford Advanced American Dictionary
Check pronunciation: treat

Nearby words

trait
noun
 
 
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