treatment
/ˈtriːtmənt/ (bre, ipa) · /ˈtriːtmənt/ (ame, ipa) · /ˈtrēt-mənt/ (ame, mw)
treatment — noun
- treatmentsingular
- treatmentsplural
1. how you act towards another person, or how you handle a particular situation
how you act towards another person, or how you handle a particular situation
Ari's treatment of his younger brother showed a lot of patience and kindness.
treatment of [person] — behaviour towards another person
The company's unfair treatment of its workers led to a public protest.
collocation: unfair treatment of
Nkechi complained about the rude treatment she received at the hotel front desk.
All students deserve equal treatment regardless of their background.
The hostages reported good treatment during their time in captivity.
- neglect
failure to give proper attention or care to someone
- mistreatment
cruel or unfair behaviour towards someone
文法句型
treatment of [person/group/situation]
用法筆記
Standard preposition is 'of' — treatment of someone or something. The object is typically a person, a group, or an abstract situation.
常見錯誤
2. the manner in which a subject, idea, or artistic work is presented or examined
the manner in which a subject, idea, or artistic work is presented or examined
The professor's treatment of the topic was thorough and easy to follow.
treatment of [topic] — way a subject is examined
Yara's article offers a fresh treatment of a well-known historical event.
This documentary gives a sympathetic treatment of a difficult social issue.
The artist's treatment of light and shadow in this painting is masterful.
Critics praised the novel's treatment of love and loss during wartime.
- analysis
more systematic and detailed, often breaking a topic into parts
- examination
suggests careful inspection and evaluation
- coverage
emphasises scope and completeness of what is included
文法句型
treatment of [subject/topic/theme]
用法筆記
Frequent in academic writing and criticism. Often followed by 'of' and a noun phrase identifying the subject matter.
常見錯誤
3. medical attention given to someone who is sick or hurt, using medicines, therapy
medical attention given to someone who is sick or hurt, using medicines, therapy, or surgery to help them get better
Min started a new treatment for her asthma that includes daily medication.
treatment for [condition] — medical therapy for an illness
The patient responded well to the treatment and was soon able to walk again.
Doctors are testing an experimental treatment for a rare form of cancer.
Rafael completed his treatment for the infection and felt much better within a week.
After months of physical treatment, Élise could finally move her shoulder without pain.
- therapy
often implies a longer-term or non-surgical approach such as physiotherapy or talk therapy
- care
broader term covering both medical and non-medical support like nursing or feeding
- medication
refers specifically to drugs taken, not to other forms of medical intervention
文法句型
treatment for [condition]
treatment of [condition]
undergo treatment
receive treatment
用法筆記
The countable/uncountable distinction carries meaning: uncountable refers to the general concept of medical care ('He is still under treatment'), while countable refers to a specific type of therapy ('a new treatment for diabetes').
常見錯誤
4. applying a chemical or physical process to a material or surface to preserve, cl
applying a chemical or physical process to a material or surface to preserve, clean, or improve its quality
The wood undergoes a special chemical treatment to protect it from insects.
chemical treatment — applying chemicals to a material
This factory uses a water treatment system to clean waste before releasing it.
collocation: water treatment system
Faisal applied a rust-treatment coating to the metal gate before painting it.
The sewage treatment plant processes millions of litres of water every day.
- processing
broader term covering any series of operations to change a material
- preparation
suggests getting a material ready for use rather than preserving or cleaning it
文法句型
treatment of [material]
chemical treatment
heat treatment
用法筆記
Typically uncountable. Common in environmental, manufacturing, and materials-science contexts. The material being processed follows 'of' — treatment of water, treatment of wood.