prescribe

Universal Words verb 1 ~ (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: [VN] The prescribed form must be completed and returned to this office. * [Vthat] Police regulations prescribe that an officer's number must be clearly visible. * [Vwh-] The syllabus prescribes precisely which books should be studied.