prescription

/prəˈskrɪpʃɪn/

/prɛsˈkrɪpʃən/

Other forms: prescriptions

A prescription is an order written by a doctor for someone to get a drug that is not available without this permission. If you get a bad ear infection, you'll need a prescription for antibiotics.

When your doctor writes a prescription, she's advising you to take a medication that you can only get from a pharmacist. You can refer to the paper with the drug's name and the doctor's signature and the bottle of medicine as a prescription. Sometimes prescription is used in a non-medical way to simply mean a suggestion or recommendation, like laughter and friends — a great prescription for chasing away the blues.

Definitions of prescription

1. noun

   directions prescribed beforehand; the action of prescribing authoritative rules or directions
   “I tried to follow her prescription for success”

   type of:

   direction, instruction

   a message describing how something is to be done
2. noun

   written instructions from a physician or dentist to a druggist concerning the form and dosage of a drug to be issued to a given patient
   type of:

   black and white, written communication, written language

   communication by means of written symbols (either printed or handwritten)
3. noun

   written instructions for an optician on the lenses for a given person
   type of:

   black and white, written communication, written language

   communication by means of written symbols (either printed or handwritten)
4. noun

   a drug that is available only with written instructions from a doctor or dentist to a pharmacist
   “he told the doctor that he had been taking his prescription regularly”

   synonyms: ethical drug, prescription drug, prescription medicine

   types:

   refill

   a prescription drug that is provided again

   type of:

   medicament, medication, medicinal drug, medicine

   (medicine) something that treats or prevents or alleviates the symptoms of disease
5. adjective

   available only with a doctor's written prescription
   “a prescription drug”

   antonyms:

   nonprescription

   purchasable without a doctor's prescription