doctor
Looking for the meaning of doctor? Explore definitions, parts of speech, and usage examples below.
Advertisement
Placeholder for content ad unit
A physician; a member of the medical profession; one who is trained and licensed to heal the sick or injured. The final examination and qualification may award a doctor degree in which case the post-nominal letters are D.O., DPM, M.D., DMD, DDS, in the US or MBBS in the UK.
“If you still feel unwell tomorrow, see your doctor.”
A person who has attained a doctorate, such as a Ph.D. or Th.D. or one of many other terminal degrees conferred by a college or university.
A veterinarian; a medical practitioner who treats non-human animals.
A nickname for a person who has special knowledge or talents to manipulate or arrange transactions.
A teacher; one skilled in a profession or a branch of knowledge; a learned man.
Any mechanical contrivance intended to remedy a difficulty or serve some purpose in an exigency.
“the doctor of a calico-printing machine, which is a knife to remove superfluous colouring matter”
A fish, the friar skate.
To act as a medical doctor to.
“Her children doctored her back to health.”
To act as a medical doctor.
To make (someone) into an (academic) doctor; to confer a doctorate upon.
To physically alter (medically or surgically) a living being in order to change growth or behavior.
“They doctored their apple trees by vigorous pruning, and now the dwarfed trees are easier to pick.”
To genetically alter an extant species.
“Mendel's discoveries showed how the evolution of a species may be doctored.”
To alter or make obscure, as with the intention to deceive, especially a document.
To take medicine.
Understanding "doctor"
The word **"doctor"** is a **noun** in the English language. It is phonetically pronounced as **/ˈdɒktə/**. Explore the detailed meaning, morphological structure, and usage examples for **"doctor"** in our dictionary below.
The English language is incredibly vast, and diving into the definition of the word "doctor" provides a perfect example of its linguistic depth. Categorized primarily as a noun, the term "doctor" holds specific syntactical roles within a sentence, allowing speakers and writers to convey precise meaning. Understanding how this word functions is an excellent step towards mastering advanced English vocabulary and improving overall reading comprehension.
For those looking to perfect their spoken English, noting the phonetic pronunciation of "doctor" is crucial. It is typically transcribed as /ˈdɒktə/. Proper enunciation ensures that your intended message is received clearly, preventing miscommunication in both formal and casual settings. Linguistic scholars often track the phonological evolution of words like "doctor" to understand broader historical shifts in dialects and accents across different English-speaking populations.
When deciding how to use "doctor" in everyday communication, it helps to look at exactly how it operates as a noun. In professional writing, academic essays, and creative literature, choosing the perfect vocabulary word can drastically elevate the tone of the text. Because "doctor" carries its own unique connotations and denotations, swapping it for a simpler synonym might dilute the impact of your sentence.
Our comprehensive dictionary tool is designed to provide immediate, reliable definitions for thousands of terms, including "doctor". By consistently exploring the nuances of vocabulary—including phonetics (/ˈdɒktə/), part of speech (noun), and usage examples—you can significantly expand your linguistic repertoire. Bookmark this page as a quick reference tool whenever you encounter "doctor" in reading materials or wish to incorporate it into your active vocabulary.
Dictionary Helper
How do I use doctor in a sentence?
Refer to the usage examples above to see how "doctor" can be used in academic and casual conversations.