n.
- a quantity of a medicine or drug taken at one time.
▸an amount of ionizing radiation received or absorbed at one time.
- informal a quantity of something necessary but unpleasant.
- informal a venereal infection.
v.
- administer a dose to.
- adulterate or blend (a substance) with another.
Phrase
- like a dose of salts
Brit. informal very fast and efficiently.
[from the use of Epsom salts as a laxative.]
Etymology
ME: from Fr., via late L. from Gk dosis ‘gift’, from didonai ‘give’.
