pre ‧ scrip ‧ tion /prɪˈskrɪpʃ ə n/ BrE AmE 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.
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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.