Library / English Dictionary

PRESCRIBE

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

 I. (verb) 

Sense 1

Meaning:

Issue commands or orders for

Synonyms:

dictate; order; prescribe

Classified under:

Verbs of telling, asking, ordering, singing

Hypernyms (to "prescribe" is one way to...):

bring down; impose; inflict; visit (impose something unpleasant)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "prescribe"):

mandate (make mandatory)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s something

Derivation:

prescription (directions prescribed beforehand; the action of prescribing authoritative rules or directions)

prescriptive (pertaining to giving directives or rules)

Sense 2

Meaning:

(medicine) order the use of (a treatment, medicine, etc.), usually by written prescription

Example:

the doctor prescribed steroids for my ear trouble

Classified under:

Verbs of telling, asking, ordering, singing

Hypernyms (to "prescribe" is one way to...):

enjoin; order; say; tell (give instructions to or direct somebody to do something with authority)

Domain category:

medical specialty; medicine (the branches of medical science that deal with nonsurgical techniques)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s something

Sense 3

Meaning:

Recommend as beneficial

Example:

my mother prescribes a good night's sleep as the cure for all ills

Classified under:

Verbs of telling, asking, ordering, singing

Hypernyms (to "prescribe" is one way to...):

advocate; recommend; urge (push for something)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s something

Credits

 Context examples: 

If you have a weakened immune system, your doctor may prescribe antiviral medicine.

(Cytomegalovirus Infections, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)

Disability Assessment for Dementia (DAD) Take his/her medications as prescribed (according to the right dosage)?

(DAD - Take Medications as Prescribed, NCI Thesaurus)

Current Opioid Misuse Measure (COMM) In the past 30 days, how often have you taken your medications differently from how they are prescribed?

(COMM - Taken Medications Other Than Prescribed, NCI Thesaurus)

Current Opioid Misuse Measure (COMM) In the past 30 days, how often have you had to take more of your medication than prescribed?

(COMM - Take More Medication Than Prescribed, NCI Thesaurus)

A CNP can order diagnostic tests, prescribe medications and drugs, and administer medications and drugs.

(Certified Nurse Practitioner, NCI Thesaurus)

Current Opioid Misuse Measure (COMM) In the past 30 days, how often have you had to go to someone other than your prescribing physician to get sufficient pain relief from medications?

(COMM - Other Sources for Pain Medication, NCI Thesaurus)

You should also monitor your glucose level and take medicine if prescribed.

(Diabetes, NIH: National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases)

To prevent it, doctors used to prescribe antibiotics before dental work or certain surgeries.

(Mitral Valve Prolapse, NIH: National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute)

Presently she woke, and I gave her food, as Van Helsing had prescribed.

(Dracula, by Bram Stoker)

I am sure that, with your symptoms, my friend Dr. Watson here would prescribe a sedative.

(The Return of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)