ˈdɔktə n. & v. --n. 1 a a qualified
practitioner of
medicine; a
physician. b US a qualified
dentist or
veterinary surgeon. 2 a
person who holds a
doctorate (Doctor of
Civil Law). 3 colloq. a person who carries
out repairs. 4
archaic a
teacher or
learned man. 5 sl. a
cook on
board a
ship or in a camp. 6 (in full doctor-blade)
Printing a
blade for removing
surplus ink etc. 7 an
artificial fishing-fly. --v. colloq. 1 a tr.
treat medically. b intr. (esp. as doctoring n.)
practise as a physician. 2 tr.
castrate or
spay. 3 tr.
patch up (machinery etc.);
mend. 4 tr.
adulterate. 5 tr.
tamper with,
falsify. 6 tr.
confer a
degree of doctor
on. øDoctor of
the Church any of
several early Christian Fathers of the Church. Doctor of
Philosophy a doctorate in any
faculty except law, medicine, or
sometimes theology. go for the doctor
Austral. sl. 1
make an all-out
effort. 2
bet all one has.
what the doctor ordered colloq.
something beneficial or
desirable. øødoctorhood n. doctorial adj. doctorly adj. doctorship n. [ME f. OF doctour f. L doctor f. docere doctteach]
