prescription

American  

[pri-skrip-shuhn] / prɪˈskrɪp ʃən /

noun

1. Medicine/Medical.

   1. a direction, usually written, by the physician to the pharmacist for the preparation and use of a medicine or remedy.

   2. the medicine prescribed.

      Take this prescription three times a day.

2. an act of prescribing.

3. that which is prescribed.

4. Law.

   1. Also called positive prescription.  a long or immemorial use of some right with respect to a thing so as to give a right to continue such use.

   2. Also called positive prescription.  the process of acquiring rights by uninterrupted assertion of the right over a long period of time.

   3. Also called negative prescription.  the loss of rights to legal remedy due to the limitation of time within which an action can be taken.

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adjective

1. (of drugs) sold only upon medical prescription; ethical.

prescription British  

/ prɪˈskrɪpʃən /

noun

1. 1. written instructions from a physician, dentist, etc, to a pharmacist stating the form, dosage strength, etc, of a drug to be issued to a specific patient

   2. the drug or remedy prescribed

2. (modifier) (of drugs) available legally only with a doctor's prescription

3. 1. written instructions from an optician specifying the lenses needed to correct defects of vision

   2. ( as modifier )

      prescription glasses

4. the act of prescribing

5. something that is prescribed

6. a long established custom or a claim based on one

7. law

   1. the uninterrupted possession of property over a stated period of time, after which a right or title is acquired ( positive prescription )

   2. the barring of adverse claims to property, etc, after a specified period of time has elapsed, allowing the possessor to acquire title ( negative prescription )

   3. the right or title acquired in either of these ways

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Etymology

Origin of prescription

1250–1300; Middle English < Medieval Latin praescrīptiōn- (stem of praescrīptiō ) legal possession (of property), law, order, literally, a writing before, hence, a heading on a document. See prescript, -ion

Example Sentences

On Tuesday, the company said it was expanding its range of smart glasses with two lines aimed at wearers of prescription lenses.

From Barron's

In France - one of a number of countries where genetic testing is illegal without a medical prescription due to privacy laws - the government has condemned the decision as "a step backwards".

From BBC

The typical Truemed user is between 35 and 50 years old and is trying to address at least one chronic condition using lifestyle interventions like exercise before getting a prescription, Mares noted.

From MarketWatch

The typical Truemed user is between 35 and 50 years old and is trying to address at least one chronic condition using lifestyle interventions like exercise before getting a prescription, Mare noted.

From MarketWatch

The ingredients could cause a “life-threatening” drop in blood pressure when mixed with nitrates found in prescription drugs, according to the FDA.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• drug
• instruction
• recipe
• remedy