DictionarytabletMedicinal pill
noun

tablet

A small compressed solid dose of medicine.

She takes one tablet with a glass of water each morning.

Etymology

The French diminutive names a small flat piece. Medicine adopted that shape-name for a compressed solid dose.

More examples

  • The doctor prescribes two tablets a day.
  • This tablet dissolves in water before you drink it.
  • Ask the pharmacist whether you can split the tablet.

Forms

tablet · tablets

Similar words

pill
A broader everyday term for solid medicine taken by mouth.
capsule
Contains medicine inside a dissolvable shell rather than a compressed mass.