dose

[ dohs ]

noun

1. a quantity of medicine prescribed to be taken at one time.
2. a substance, situation, or quantity of anything analogous to medicine, especially of something disagreeable:

   Failing the exam was a hard dose to swallow.

3. an amount of sugar added in the production of champagne.
4. Physics.
   1. Also called absorbed dose. the quantity of ionizing radiation absorbed by a unit mass of matter, especially living tissue, measured in grays: although increasingly disfavored, in the U.S. an absorbed dose may still be measured in rads.
   2. exposure dose.
5. Slang. a case of gonorrhea or syphilis.

verb (used with object)

, dosed, dos·ing.

1. to administer in or apportion for doses.
2. to give a dose of medicine to.
3. to add sugar to (champagne) during production.

verb (used without object)

, dosed, dos·ing.

1. to take a dose of medicine.

dose

/ dəʊs /

noun

1. med a specific quantity of a therapeutic drug or agent taken at any one time or at specified intervals
2. informal.
   something unpleasant to experience

   a dose of influenza

3. Also calleddosage the total energy of ionizing radiation absorbed by unit mass of material, esp of living tissue; usually measured in grays (SI unit) or rads
4. Also calleddosage a small amount of syrup added to wine, esp sparkling wine, when the sediment is removed and the bottle is corked
5. slang.
   a venereal infection, esp gonorrhoea
6. like a dose of salts
   very quickly indeed

verb

1. to administer a dose or doses to (someone)
2. med to give (a therapeutic drug or agent) in appropriate quantities
3. often foll by up to give (someone, esp oneself) drugs, medicine, etc, esp in large quantities
4. to add syrup to (wine) during bottling

Derived Forms

• ˈdoser, noun

Other Words From

• dos·er noun
• su·per·dose noun
• un·der·dose noun
• un·der·dose verb (used with object) underdosed underdosing
• well-dosed adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of dose¹

First recorded in 1590–1600; French , from Late Latin dosis, from Greek dósis “a giving, gift,” derivative of didónai “to give”

Word History and Origins

Origin of dose¹

C15: from French, from Late Latin dosis, from Greek: a giving, from didonai to give

Example Sentences

The vitamin folate, also known as vitamin B9, is found in everyday foods such as beans and some green vegetables, meaning most people receive a sufficient dose from eating a regular, healthy diet.

From BBC

People typically get a dose of the nuclear medicine which is put into their body and it radiates.

From BBC

Dr Tedros said 105,500 children in the north of Gaza received a second dose, which amounted to around 88% coverage.

From BBC

Agricultural officials are working to eliminate the infestation by applying a small patch of fruit fly attractant mixed with a very small dose of an organic pesticide, Spinosad, about 8 to 10 feet off the ground on street trees, power poles, street lights and similar surfaces.

From Los Angeles Times

Harris held her final rally of the campaign Monday night, 106 days after President Biden decided not to seek reelection, with a heavy dose of celebrity, trying to bring back the joy that characterized her early weeks on the trail.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• application
• dosage
• lot
• measure
• measurement
• prescription
• quantity
• shot