pre·treat·ment
ˌprē-ˈtrēt-mənt
variants
or pre-treatment
plural pretreatments or pre-treatments
: an act or instance of treating someone or something in advance : preliminary or preparatory treatment
pretreatment of stains
pretreatment of a surface for painting
… pretreatment is often required to remove oil and grease from the waste water.—John H. Sheridan
… will allow public works crews to apply salt brine to pre-treat city streets before snow events. The pre-treatment creates an additional layer that helps to melt snow …—Kevin Thompkins
A drug called atropine can reverse the effects if administered promptly, and pretreatment with pyridostigmine can help shield the body …—Adam Rogers
also
: a substance used for such treatment
Oils give great shine, but I also use them as a pretreatment to prevent damage prior to coloring my natural hair. —Deena Campbell
variants
or pre-treatment
1
: existing or occurring before treatment
the pretreatment period
a pretreatment condition
the patient's pretreatment drug regimen
When treatment was discontinued, the condition of treated nasal muscles quickly returned to pretreatment levels.—Michael Vaiman et al.
2
: of, relating to, or being a pretreatment
a waste pretreatment facility/system
The current chemical pretreatment process uses relatively harsh conditions to break down the tough structure of grass and other biomass.—Phys.org
In my weekly Ask a Clean Person columns, I talk a lot about laundry boosters and stain pretreatment products …—Jolie Kerr
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Merriam-Webster unabridged
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