dose
B1Neutral, formal in medical contexts, informal in figurative use.
Definition
Meaning
A measured amount of a medicine or drug to be taken at one time.
An amount of something (e.g., information, punishment, radiation, or experience) received or experienced at one time.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Primarily a noun (countable). Its meaning extends from a literal, measured quantity of medicine to a metaphor for any concentrated, often intense, single serving of an abstract entity. As a verb, it means to administer a dose.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant semantic differences. Minor spelling preference in derivatives (e.g., 'dosage' is universal). The verb form is equally used in both.
Connotations
Identical core connotations. The figurative use ('a dose of reality') is equally common.
Frequency
Equally high frequency in medical and general contexts in both varieties.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
N of N (a dose of medicine)V N with N (dose someone with antibiotics)ADJ dose (a heavy dose)Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “like a dose of salts”
- “a dose of one's own medicine”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Rare. Possibly figurative: 'The market got a dose of bad news.'
Academic
Common in medical, pharmaceutical, and public health texts.
Everyday
Common for discussing medication and figuratively for experiences: 'a dose of flu', 'a dose of honesty'.
Technical
Core term in pharmacology, medicine, radiology, and toxicology.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- The vet will dose the horse with antibiotics.
- Be careful not to dose yourself with that strong medicine.
American English
- I had to dose the kids with cough syrup.
- The farm hands dosed the cattle with vitamins.
adverb
British English
- N/A
American English
- N/A
adjective
British English
- N/A
American English
- N/A
Examples
By CEFR Level
- Take one dose of this medicine in the morning.
- The doctor gave me a dose for my headache.
- The recommended dose is two tablets every four hours.
- After the argument, he needed a dose of peace and quiet.
- A lethal dose of the chemical was found in the water supply.
- Her sarcastic comment was a harsh dose of reality for the overconfident team.
- The patients were dosed with the experimental drug at carefully controlled intervals.
- The documentary provided a sobering dose of geopolitical analysis.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of 'dose' rhyming with 'hose'. You measure out a dose from a medicine bottle like you measure water from a hose.
Conceptual Metaphor
MEDICINE IS A MEASURED SUBSTANCE; EXPERIENCES ARE MEDICINES (e.g., a dose of reality, a dose of laughter).
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Do not confuse with 'доза' (which is a correct translation) and 'доза' as a 'portion of food' (less common in English).
- Avoid using 'dose' for a 'serving' of food (use 'portion', 'helping').
- The verb 'to dose' is active: *'He dosed himself'* not passive like *'He was dosed by the medicine'*.
Common Mistakes
- Confusing 'dose' (single measured amount) with 'dosage' (the regimen of doses over time).
- Misspelling as 'doze' (to sleep lightly).
- Using an incorrect preposition: *'dose for pain'* instead of 'dose of painkiller'.
Practice
Quiz
In the sentence 'He gave me a stern dose of criticism,' the word 'dose' is used:
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
'Dose' refers to a single, specific measured amount to be taken at one time. 'Dosage' refers to the overall regimen or schedule of doses (e.g., 'the recommended dosage is one dose every six hours').
Yes. 'To dose' means to administer or give a dose of medicine to someone or something (e.g., 'She dosed the child with syrup').
Yes, it's a common informal/colloquial expression meaning 'a case of the flu' or 'an instance of catching the flu'.
It means to experience the same unpleasant treatment that one has given to others. It's based on the idea of being forced to take the bad-tasting medicine you prescribed for someone else.
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