/prɪ'skrɪpʃn; prɪ`skrɪpʃən/
n
1 [C]
(a) doctor's written instruction for the composition and use of a medicine 处方; 药方
*The doctor gave me a prescription for pain-killers. 医生给我开了个止痛药方.
* (fig 比喻) His prescription for economic recovery was not well received. 他为使经济复苏提出的对策反应不佳.
(b) medicine prescribed in this way 处方上开的药
*The chemist made a mistake when making up the prescription. 药剂师配错了药.
* [attrib 作定语] prescription charges, ie (in Britain) money to be paid by the patient for drugs supplied on the National Health Service 处方收费（在英国指病人为获得国民保健署所提供的药品而缴纳的费用）.
2 [U] action of prescribing 开处方
*The prescription of drugs is a doctor's responsibility. 开药方是医生的职责

n[C]
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
→prescribeprescription 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
AmE (=get the drugs a doctor has written that you need)
　I got the prescription filled on the way home.
a particular medicine or treatment ordered by a doctor for a sick person
　If you're pregnant, you can get free prescriptions.
on prescription
BrEby prescriptionAmE
a drug that you get on prescription can only be obtained with a written order from the doctor
→over the counter
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.