Skip to main content
Glite Dictionary
to pretreat

to pretreat

1 4.5
To prepare something, like clothes or a surface, before the main step so it works better
  • verb
  • /priːˈtriːt/
: pretratar
  • After being pretreated, the effluent is pumped to a soil treatment system for final treatment.
  • pretreated with mifepristone

They they, they pretreated the ground before they planted their seed with their message.

Examples

  • Additionally, the facility receives pretreated industrial effluent from 23 commercial facilities.

    Academic text (1999)

  • Now I find myself having to pretreat with Shout to get stains out.

    Blog text (18)

  • I never pretreated stains with anything but the detergent itself, and it always seemed to clean everything.

    Blog text (18)

  • The pretreated wastewater is piped under pressure to the soil treatment site.

    Academic text (2001)

  • Second, the substrate is pretreated before printing to ensure adhesion of the catalyst to the surface.

    Academic text (2001)

  • And that's why we pretreat the water," said Mary Massed (Manager/CEO of Southwest Water Authority).

    Blog text (22)

  • Before applying the paint, it is important to pretreat the surface to ensure better adhesion.

  • To reduce the amount of salt used for de-icing, crews will pretreat the roads with a special solution.

  • You should pretreat any stains on your clothes with a stain remover for the best results in the wash.

Synonyms

to condition
vsto pretreat
60 3.7

To make something ready or in better shape for use

is done before the main process rather than at any time
to precook
vsto pretreat
1 2.7

To cook food partly or completely before you finish preparing it

is a general early preparation not specifically about heating food
to presoak
vsto pretreat
1 2.9

To soak something in water before washing or cooking

is a general early preparation done before the main process not only by immersion
to preprocess
vsto pretreat
  • Specialized
1 5.4

To clean or prepare data before main processing

is a general early preparation aimed at improving results not only cleaning
to premix
vsto pretreat
1 4.2

To mix ingredients together before you use them

is a general early preparation aiming to improve results not limited to combining
to precondition
vsto pretreat
1 6.0

To make something ready in advance so it meets requirements

focuses on improving results rather than only meeting requirements
to prewarm
vsto pretreat
1 5.0

Heat something before you use it

is a general early preparation not limited to changing temperature
to precool
vsto pretreat
  • Specialized
1 6.3

To cool something before use or storage

is a general early preparation not limited to lowering temperature

How Thoroughly

to sterilize
  • Specialized
32 4.1
to pretreat
1 4.5
to sanitize
  • US
13 3.7
to clean
∞ 1.0
rinse
13 1.0

Surface Forms

pretreat infinitive
pretreated past
pretreated past participle
pretreating present participle
pretreats third person singular

Morphology

pretreat = treat (transparent) = pre + treat

This is a standard and easily interpretable use of 'pre-' meaning 'before' attached to 'treat'.

Etymology

Pretreat comes from the prefix pre- 'before' and the common word treat 'to deal with or care for'. So to pretreat is to deal with something before the main process, like using a stain remover before washing, so the final result is better.