deal
This word carries a strong sense of transaction and negotiation. Whether it is the physical act of distributing cards or the legal act of signing a contract, there is an underlying theme of allocation and exchange. It often implies a strategic element, where parties are trying to secure the best possible outcome. In a psychological sense, using it as a verb for coping suggests a process of management and resolution. It transforms a chaotic problem into a series of tasks to be handled, moving from a state of being overwhelmed to a state of control.
Countable when referring to a specific business agreement or a card-playing round. Uncountable when referring to a large quantity of something.
Meanings
An agreement between two or more parties, often involving a business transaction or a political compromise.
"The two companies finally signed a deal to merge their operations."
A quantity or amount of something, typically used with a modifier like great or good.
"He spent a great deal of time researching the topic."
The distribution of cards in a card game.
"The dealer began the deal with a shuffled deck."
To distribute cards or other items in a fair or systematic manner.
"The croupier dealt the cards to the players at the table."
To take action to solve a problem or handle a difficult situation.
"We need to find a way to deal with the rising cost of materials."
To buy and sell a particular product as a business.
"The shop deals in rare antique books and manuscripts."
Phrasal Verbs
deal with
to handle a problem or manage a person
She had to deal with a very angry customer for an hour.
deal in
to buy and sell a specific commodity as a business
The gallery deals in nineteenth-century landscape paintings.
deal out
to distribute something to a group of people
The teacher dealt out the exam papers to the students.