/ prɪˈskraɪb; NAmE / verb
1.
prescribe (sb) sth (for sth) ( of a doctor ) to tell sb to take a particular medicine or have a particular treatment; to write a prescription for a particular medicine, etc. :
[ vn ]
Valium is usually prescribed to treat anxiety.
[ vnn ]
He may be able to prescribe you something for that cough.
2.
( used about a person or an organization with authority ) to say what should be done or how sth should be done
SYN stipulate :
[ vn ]
The prescribed form must be completed and returned to this office.
[ v that ]
Police regulations prescribe that an officer's number must be clearly visible.
[ v wh- ]
The syllabus prescribes precisely which books should be studied.
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WORD ORIGIN
late Middle English (in the sense confine within bounds , also as a legal term meaning claim by prescription ): from Latin praescribere direct in writing, from prae before + scribere write.