(Roman Catholic Church) a title conferred on 33 saints who distinguished themselves through the orthodoxy of their theological teaching
"the Doctors of the Church greatly influenced Christian thought down to the late Middle Ages"
children take the roles of physician or patient or nurse and pretend they are at the physician's office
"the children explored each other's bodies by playing the game of doctor"
The title of an academic or medical doctor (a person who holds a doctorate); used before or instead of the doctor's name.
"After years of rigorous study, she earned her medical license to become a fully qualified doctor capable of healing the sick and injured."
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.
In plain English: A doctor is a person who studies medicine and helps sick people get better by examining them, giving advice, and prescribing treatments.
"The doctor examined my knee and prescribed some medication."
Usage: Use this word for any qualified medical professional, but reserve it specifically for physicians rather than other healthcare workers like nurses or therapists. Avoid using "doctor" when referring to academic degrees unless the context clearly distinguishes them from their licensed practice.
alter and make impure, as with the intention to deceive
"Sophisticate rose water with geraniol"
To act as a medical doctor to.
"The experienced nurse decided to doctor the wound before bandaging it up."
In plain English: To doctor something means to change it secretly so that people believe it is better than it really is.
"The new software update will help you doctor your photos to make them look more vibrant."
The word doctor comes from the Latin doctor, meaning "teacher," which entered Middle English through Anglo-Norman. It eventually replaced native Old English terms for healer and teacher, such as lǣce and lerare.