prescribe/prIˋskraIb; prIˈskraIb/v [T] 1 to say what medicine or treatment an ill person should have 给…开药﹐给…开处方: prescribe sb sth The doctor prescribed him tranquilizers. 医生给他开了镇静剂。2 formal to state officially what must be done in a situation【正式】规定﹐指定: a punishment prescribed by the law 法律规定的处罚