over-the-counter drug
4
2.8
- noun
- /ˈoʊvər ðə ˈkaʊntər drʌg/
- She found relief from her cold symptoms after taking an over-the-counter drug that contained decongestants.
- prescription and over-the-counter drug
Loading YouTube…
Watch on YouTubeWillow tree bark was used to treat pain and fevers for thousands of years and became the basis for this popular over the counter drug.
- Willow tree bark was used to treat pain and fevers for thousands of years and became the basis for this popular over the counter drug.
Examples
-
Frequent use of over-the-counter drugs.
Academic text (1991) -
I use a wonderful over-the-counter drug: Ultra-dorm.
-
Many expressed a preference for home remedies instead of over-the-counter drugs for cultural reasons and their proven effectiveness.
Academic text (1995) -
Prospectively monitoring over-the-counter drug sales may help health departments quickly detect outbreaks of diarrhea disease.
Academic text (1997) -
Many people prefer to use an over-the-counter drug like ibuprofen for minor aches and pains.
-
Before you take any over-the-counter drug, make sure to read the label for dosage instructions.
Synonyms
1
2.7
A medicine you can buy without a doctor's prescription
Antonyms
How Available
4
2.8
76
3.3
Surface Forms
Morphology
over-the-counter + drug
The compound 'over-the-counter' literally describes sale at the counter, so a B1 learner who knows 'over', 'counter' and 'drug' can infer it refers to a medication sold directly without a doctor's prescription. This is a straightforward, compositionally built commercial concept found in many languages, making the meaning predictable from its parts.
Etymology
Over-the-counter drug comes from the simple picture of buying medicine at a pharmacy: you ask for it at the counter and it is passed over to you without a doctor's note. That's why it means 'a drug you can buy without a doctor's prescription'.