medicate

Everyday

1. To medicate is to give someone medicine, or to treat an illness with medicine. tree →
2. Medicated (adjective) means containing medicine: «medicated shampoo». tree →

In the lessons

Used in health and safety contexts: doctors medicate patients; «medicated cream». Phrases: «self-medicate» (take medicine without a doctor's advice). Safety: only adults should give children medicine, and only the right dose.

Examples

• The vet medicated the sick dog. tree →
• Use the medicated cream twice a day. tree →
• Never medicate yourself without asking an adult. tree →
• The nurse medicated the patient at bedtime. tree →
• She used medicated shampoo for her itchy scalp. tree →
• Doctors decide whether to medicate a fever. tree →

Note

Formal; everyday talk says «give medicine». Noun: medication (medicine). «Self-medicate» can mean using things to cope with feelings, often in an unhealthy way.