doctor

¹doc·tor

noun \ˈdäk-tər\

Definition of DOCTOR

1

a : an eminent theologian declared a sound expounder of doctrine by the Roman Catholic Church —called also doctor of the church b : a learned or authoritative teacher c : a person who has earned one of the highest academic degrees (as a PhD) conferred by a university d : a person awarded an honorary doctorate (as an LLD or Litt D) by a college or university

2

a : a person skilled or specializing in healing arts; especially : one (as a physician, dentist, or veterinarian) who holds an advanced degree and is licensed to practice b : medicine man

3

a : material added (as to food) to produce a desired effect b : a blade (as of metal) for spreading a coating or scraping a surface

4

: a person who restores, repairs, or fine-tunes things

— doc·tor·al \-t(ə-)rəl\ adjective

— doc·tor·less \-tər-ləs\ adjective

— doc·tor·ship \-ˌship\ noun

Examples of DOCTOR

1. He needed medicine but refused to go to a doctor.
2. She was under doctor's orders not to return to work.
3. I saw her at the doctor's last week.
4. How long will you be at the doctor?
5. Most of the faculty members at this college are doctors in their fields.
6. Dr. Smith, can you explain the exam requirements again?

Origin of DOCTOR

Middle English doctour teacher, doctor, from Anglo-French & Medieval Latin; Anglo-French, from Medieval Latin doctor, from Latin, teacher, from docēre to teach — more at docile

First Known Use: 14th century

Related to DOCTOR

Synonyms: croaker [slang], doc, medic, medico, physician, sawbones [slang]

Antonyms: nondoctor, nonphysician

Related Words: family doctor, family physician, family practitioner, general practitioner; anesthesiologist, dermatologist, gynecologist, internist, neurologist, ob-gyn, obstetrician, ophthalmologist, orthopedist, pathologist, pediatrician (also pediatrist), physiatrist, podiatrist, radiologist, urologist; attending, clinician, hospitalist; specialist; plastic surgeon, surgeon; intern (also interne), resident; aidman, nurse, nurse-practitioner; EMT, paramedic (also paramedical); physical therapist, physiotherapist

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Other Medicine Terms

analgesia, angina, diabetes, hepatitis, homeopathy, logorrhea, palliate, pandemic

Rhymes with DOCTOR

proctor