Dose
/dəʊs/
Definitions
3 meaningsA measured amount of a substance, typically medicine, that is taken at a specific time.
/dəʊs/
A measured quantity of a medicine or other substance.
The recommended dose of vitamin C is 500mg per day.
💡 Simply: A dose is like a small amount of medicine, like the amount your mom gives you when you're sick. It's a specific, measured amount.
👶 For kids: A dose is like a little bit of medicine you take to feel better.
More Examples
She accidentally took a double dose of her medication.
Ensure you take the correct dose of the medicine.
How It's Used
"The doctor prescribed a daily dose of the antibiotic."
"The vet administered a dose of deworming medication to the dog."
To give or administer a specific amount of a substance, especially medication.
/dəʊz/
To administer a dose of a medicine or other substance to someone.
The doctor dosed the child with a cough syrup.
💡 Simply: To dose is like giving someone a dose of medicine or something similar. It's the action of administering the specific amount.
👶 For kids: To dose someone is to give them a little bit of medicine.
More Examples
They are dosing the animals regularly to control fleas.
The technician dosed the plants with fertilizer.
How It's Used
"The nurse dosed the patient with the prescribed medication."
"The farmer dosed the cattle to prevent parasites."
A measured portion of something unpleasant, such as bad news or criticism, that one has to experience or deal with.
/dəʊs/
A specific amount of something unpleasant that one has to endure
She received a daily dose of criticism from her boss.
💡 Simply: Sometimes a dose is not medicine, but something unpleasant, like hearing bad news. It's like taking a little bit of something that's not so good.
👶 For kids: Sometimes 'dose' can mean a bit of something you don't like. Like a 'dose' of being made to tidy up your toys!
More Examples
The world seems to be getting a daily dose of doom and gloom.
He wasn't expecting the dose of reality that he was about to receive.
How It's Used
"He was not ready for his daily dose of bad news."
Idioms & expressions
a dose of one's own medicine
To experience the same unpleasant treatment that one has inflicted on others.
"After constantly making fun of his friend, he got a dose of his own medicine when the friend started teasing him back."
From Middle French *dose*, from Medieval Latin *dosis*, from Greek *dosis* ('a giving'), from *didomi* ('to give').
The word 'dose' has been used since the 14th century to refer to a specific quantity of a medicine. Its usage has broadened over time to encompass other substances and situations.
Memory tip
Imagine measuring out a specific amount of something, like medicine – that's a dose!