[doc.tor] n [ME doctour teacher, doctor, fr. MF & ML; MF, fr. ML doctor, fr. L, teacher, fr. docere to teach--more at docile] (14c) 1 a: an eminent theologian declared a sound expounder of doctrine by the Roman Catholic Church--called also doctor of the church b: a learned or authoritative teacher c: a person who has earned one of the highest academic degrees (as a PhD) conferred by a university d: a person awarded an honorary doctorate (as an LLD or Litt D) by a college or university
2. a: one skilled or specializing in healing arts; esp: a physician, surgeon, dentist, or veterinarian who is licensed to practice b: medicine man 3 a: material added (as to food) to produce a desired effect b: a blade (as of metal) for spreading a coating or scraping a surface
4: a person who restores or repairs things -- doc.tor.al adj -- doc.tor.less adj -- doc.tor.ship n
[2]doctor vb doc.tored ; doc.tor.ing vt (1712) 1 a: to give medical treatment to b: to restore to good condition: repair "~ an old clock"
2. a: to adapt or modify for a desired end by alteration or special treatment "~ed the play to suit the audience" "the drink was ~ed" b: to alter deceptively "accused of ~ing the election returns" ~ vi 1: to practice medicine
2. dial: to take medicine