deal1
• verb (past and past part. dealt) 1 distribute (cards) to players for a game or round. 2 (deal out) distribute or apportion. 3 take part in commercial trading of a commodity. 4 informal buy and sell illegal drugs. 5 (deal with) have commercial relations with. 6 (deal with) take measures to put right. 7 (deal with) cope with. 8 (deal with) have as a subject. 9 inflict (a blow) on. • noun 1 an agreement between two or more parties for their mutual benefit. 2 the process of dealing cards in a card game. 3 a particular form of treatment given or received: working mothers get a bad deal. — PHRASES a big deal informal 1 an important thing. 2 (big deal) used ironically to express contempt for something regarded as unimpressive. a deal of a large amount of. a good (or great) deal 1 a large amount. 2 to a considerable extent: a good deal better. a square deal a fair bargain or treatment. — ORIGIN Old English, related to DOLE.
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