Doctor

Definition

Doctor refers to a person who is qualified to practice medicine and treat illnesses and injuries. It can also denote an individual who has achieved a doctoral degree in a specific academic or professional field, giving them the title "Dr." as a mark of expertise.

Parts of Speech

• Noun
• Verb

Pronunciation

American English

• IPA Pronunciation: /ˈdɑːktər/
• Respelling: DAHK-ter

British English

• IPA Pronunciation: /ˈdɒktər/
• Respelling: DOK-tuh

Etymology

The word "doctor" originates from the Latin "doctor," meaning "teacher" or "instructor," derived from "docere," meaning "to teach." In Medieval Latin, it was used as a title for scholars, and later expanded to include medical practitioners in English by the 14th century.

Derivatives

• Doctorate (noun)
• Doctoral (adjective)
• Doctoring (verb)
• Doctored (verb)
• Doctorly (adjective)

Synonyms

• Physician
• Healer
• Specialist

Antonyms

• Patient
• Amateur
• Layperson

Usage

The noun "doctor" is commonly used to refer to medical professionals. For example, "She went to see a doctor about her symptoms." In academic contexts, it refers to individuals with a doctoral degree, such as "He earned his title of doctor in philosophy." The verb form is used informally to mean altering something, often with a negative connotation, such as "The document was doctored."

Related Terms

• Physician: A qualified medical practitioner.
• Surgeon: A doctor specialized in performing surgeries.
• Academic: A scholar, especially one with a doctoral degree.

Detailed Definitions

Noun

• A person qualified to practice medicine: Refers to a healthcare professional responsible for diagnosing and treating medical conditions.
  • Example: "The doctor prescribed medication for the patient."
• An individual holding a doctoral degree in any field: Used as a title for someone who has completed a doctorate.
  • Example: "She is a doctor of philosophy in psychology."

Verb

• To alter or tamper with something: Informally, it means to change something, often deceptively.
  • Example: "The results of the report were doctored."