26984 words

prescription

5 definitions • 12 examples
1
a piece of paper on which a doctor writes the details of the medicine or drugs that someone needs:

Examples:

a doctor's prescription
a prescription for sedatives
The doctor should give you a repeat prescription (= another piece of paper allowing more of the same medicine to be given, often without the person seeing the doctor again).
These drugs are only available on prescription (= with a prescription from a doctor).
Prescription charges (= the standard amount of money you pay for any medicine prescribed by a doctor) are rising in June.
2
the act of telling someone else what they must have or do:

Examples:

So what is his prescription for success?
3
a doctor’s written direction for the medicine that someone needs and how it is to be used, or the medicine itself:

Examples:

The doctor gave me prescriptions for antibiotics and cough syrup.
The drugstore called to say your prescription is ready to be picked up.
4
rules or a situation that will have a particular effect:

Examples:

The company’s reorganization could be a prescription for disaster.
5
a doctor's written instruction for the medicine that someone needs and for how it should be used:

Examples:

These drugs are only available on prescription.
The doctor wrote him a prescription for two tablets, 100 mg each for a total of 200 mg a day.

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