prescription

pre·scrip·tion

Use prescription in a sentence

A bottle of prescription medicine

noun

The definition of a prescription is a written order to do something or the act of making such an order.

An example of a prescription is a doctor's note telling a patient what type of medication to get.

Link/Cite

Link to this page

Cite this page

MLA Style

"prescription." YourDictionary, n.d. Web. 20 March 2019. <https://www.yourdictionary.com/prescription>.

APA Style

prescription. (n.d.). Retrieved March 20th, 2019, from https://www.yourdictionary.com/prescription

prescription

the act of prescribing
something prescribed; order; direction; prescript
1. a doctor's written direction for the preparation and use of medicine, the grinding of lenses for eyeglasses, etc.
2. a medicine so prescribed
1. a long-established, authoritative custom
2. a claim based on this
Law
1. the acquirement of the title or right to something through its continued use or possession from time immemorial or over a long period
2. a right or title so acquired

Origin of prescription

Middle English prescripcion from Classical Latin praescriptio

made according to, or purchasable only with, a doctor's prescription: prescription lenses; a prescription drug

Link/Cite

Link to this page

Cite this page

MLA Style

"prescription." YourDictionary, n.d. Web. 20 March 2019. <https://www.yourdictionary.com/prescription>.

APA Style

prescription. (n.d.). Retrieved March 20th, 2019, from https://www.yourdictionary.com/prescription

prescription

noun

a. The action of establishing a rule, law, or direction.
b. Something that is prescribed; a rule, law, or direction: prescriptions for living a moral life.
a. A written order, especially by a physician, for the preparation and administration of a medicine or other treatment.
b. A prescribed medicine or other treatment: Have you used up all of your prescription?
c. An ophthalmologist's or optometrist's written instruction, as for the grinding of corrective lenses.
Law The acquisition of an easement or of title to property by use or occupancy that exceeds the time allowed to another to recover it by statutory right.

Origin of prescription

Middle English prescripcion establishment of a claim from Old French prescription from Medieval Latin praescrīptiō praescrīptiōn- from Latin introduction, precept from praescrīptus past participle of praescrībere to order ; see prescribe .

THE AMERICAN HERITAGE® DICTIONARY OF THE ENGLISH LANGUAGE, FIFTH EDITION by the Editors of the American Heritage Dictionaries. Copyright © 2016, 2011 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

Link/Cite

Link to this page

Cite this page

MLA Style

"prescription." YourDictionary, n.d. Web. 20 March 2019. <https://www.yourdictionary.com/prescription>.

APA Style

prescription. (n.d.). Retrieved March 20th, 2019, from https://www.yourdictionary.com/prescription

Noun

(plural prescriptions)

(law) The act of prescribing a rule, law, etc..
"Jurisdiction to prescribe" is a state's authority to make its laws applicable to certain persons or activities. -- Richard G. Alexander, Iran and Libya Sanctions Act of 1996: Congress exceeds its jurisdiction to prescribe law. Washington and Lee Law Review, 1997.
(law) A period of time within which a right must be exercised, unless the right is extinguished.
The prescription governing the victim's right to enter a charge shall be interrupted by virtue of section 95 of the Criminal Code.
(medicine) A written order, as by a physician or nurse practitioner, for the administration of a medicine or other intervention. See also scrip.
The surgeon wrote a prescription for a pain killer and physical therapy.
(medicine) The prescription medicine or intervention so prescribed.
The pharmacist gave her a bottle containing her prescription.
(ophthalmology) The formal description of the lens geometry needed for spectacles, etc..
The optician followed the optometrist's prescription for her new eyeglasses.
A piece of advice.
"Early to bed and early to rise" is a prescription for a healthy lifestyle.

Adjective

(of a drug, etc.) only available with a physician or nurse practitioner's written prescription
Many powerful pain killers are prescription drugs in the U.S.

English Wiktionary. Available under CC-BY-SA license.

Link/Cite

Link to this page

Cite this page

MLA Style

"prescription." YourDictionary, n.d. Web. 20 March 2019. <https://www.yourdictionary.com/prescription>.

APA Style

prescription. (n.d.). Retrieved March 20th, 2019, from https://www.yourdictionary.com/prescription

prescription - Legal Definition

n

The role that the passage of time plays in the making and ending of certain rights. A way to acquire an easement on or in real property belonging to another by occupying it continuously for a prescribed period of time. See also adverse possession.

Link/Cite

Link to this page

Cite this page

MLA Style

"prescription." YourDictionary, n.d. Web. 20 March 2019. <https://www.yourdictionary.com/prescription>.

APA Style

prescription. (n.d.). Retrieved March 20th, 2019, from https://www.yourdictionary.com/prescription

prescription - Medical Definition

n.

A written order, especially by a physician, for the preparation and administration of a medicine or other treatment.
A prescribed medicine or other treatment: Have you used up all of your prescription?
An ophthalmologist's or optometrist's written instruction, as for the grinding of corrective lenses.