■ verb
1》 behave towards or deal with in a certain way.
↘present or discuss (a subject).
2》 give medical care or attention to.
3》 apply a process or a substance to.
4》 ( ~ someone to ) provide someone with (food, drink, or entertainment) at one's expense.
↘( ~ oneself ) do or have something very pleasurable.
5》 (usu. ~ with ) negotiate terms.
■ noun
1》 a surprise gift, event, etc. that gives great pleasure.
2》 ( one's ~ ) an act of ~ing someone to something.
3》 N. Amer. a sweet, biscuit, or other sweet item of food.
Phrases
—— a ~ Brit. informal doing something specified very well: their tactics worked a ~.
↘( look a ~ ) look attractive.
Derivatives
~able adjective
~er noun
Origin
ME: from OFr. traitier , from L. tractare 'handle', frequentative of trahere 'draw, pull'.