prescription

prescription
pre‧scrip‧tion /prɪˈskrɪpʃən/ noun [countable]
1. a piece of paper on which a doctor writes what medicine a sick person should have, so that they can get it from a pharmacist ⇨ prescribe
    prescription for
    a prescription for sleeping pills
    We are trying to cut the price of prescription drugs.
    a repeat prescription (=one that you have regularly)
    fill a prescription American English (=get the drugs a doctor has written that you need)
    I got the prescription filled on the way home.
2. a particular medicine or treatment ordered by a doctor for a sick person:
    If you’re pregnant, you can get free prescriptions.
3. on prescription British English, by prescription American English a drug that you get on prescription can only be obtained with a written order from the doctor ⇨ over the counter
4. an idea or suggestion about how you should behave, or how to make a situation, activity etc successful
    prescription for
    The party’s main prescription for educational problems was to give schools more money.
     

COLLOCATIONS

■ verbs
   ▪ give somebody a prescription Dr. Kleinert gave me a prescription for some sleeping tablets.
   ▪ write a prescription (also write out a prescription) I'll write you a prescription for some skin cream.
   ▪ make up a prescription (also fill a prescription American English) (=give a patient the drugs that a doctor says they need) You can get the prescription made up at a chemist's.
■ NOUN + prescription
   ▪ a doctor's prescription Most of these drugs require a doctor's prescription.
   ▪ a repeat prescription (=one that you have regularly) I went to the surgery to pick up a repeat prescription.
■ prescription + NOUN
   ▪ a prescription drug/medicine Not everyone can afford the cost of prescription drugs.