■ noun
1》 a person who is qualified to practise medicine.
↘ N. Amer. a qualified dentist or veterinary surgeon.
2》 ( Doctor ) a person who holds the highest university degree.
3》 an artificial fishing fly.
■ verb
1》 adulterate, tamper with, or falsify.
2》 informal practise medicine.
3》 Brit. remove the sexual organs of (an animal) so that it cannot reproduce.
Phrases
be what the ~ ordered informal be beneficial or desirable.
go for the ~ Austral./NZ informal make an all-out effort.
Derivatives
~ing noun
~ly adjective
Origin
ME (in the senses 'learned person' and 'Doctor of the Church'): via OFr. from L. ~ 'teacher'.