to occupy oneself or itself (usually fol. by with or in )

Botany deals with the study of plants. He deals in generalities.

to take action with respect to a thing or person (fol. by with )

Law courts must deal with lawbreakers.

to conduct oneself toward persons

He deals fairly.

to be able to handle competently or successfully; cope (fol. by with )

I can't deal with your personal problems.

to trade or do business (fol. by with or in )

to deal with a firm; to deal in used cars.

to distribute, esp. the cards in a game (often fol. by out )

to deal out five hands of six cards each; your turn to deal.

Slang . to buy and sell drugs illegally.

Archaic . to have dealings or commerce, often in a secret or underhand manner (often fol. by with )

to deal with the Devil.

to give to one as a share; apportion

Deal me in.

to distribute among a number of recipients, as the cards required in a game

Deal five cards to each player.

Cards . to give a player (a specific card) in dealing

You dealt yourself four aces.

to deliver; administer

to deal a blow.

Slang . to buy and sell (drugs) illegally.

Slang . to trade (an athlete) to another team.

a business transaction

They closed the deal after a week of negotiating.

a bargain or arrangement for mutual advantage

the best deal in town.

a secret or underhand agreement or bargain

His supporters worked a number of deals to help his campaign.

Informal . treatment received in dealing with another

He got a raw deal.

an indefinite but large quantity, amount, extent, or degree (usually prec. by good or great )

a good deal of work; a great deal of money.

Cards .

the distribution of cards to the players in a game.

the set of cards in one's hand.

the turn of a player to deal.

the period of time during which a deal is played.

an act of dealing or distributing.

( initial capital letter ) an economic and social policy pursued by a political administration

the Fair Deal; the New Deal.

Obsolete . portion; share. ?

deal off,

Poker . to deal the final hand of a game.

Slang . to get rid of or trade (something or someone) in a transaction. ?

cut a deal, Informal . to make an agreement

esp. a business agreement

Networks have cut a deal with foreign stations for an international hookup.

deal someone in

Slang . to include

He was making a lot of dough in the construction business so I got him to deal me in.