a person qualified to practise medicine; a physician or surgeon
NAmer a licensed dentist or veterinary surgeon
a holder of the highest level of academic degree conferred by a university
informal a person who is skilled in repairing or treating a usu specified type of machine, vehicle, etc
a bicycle doctor
= Doctor of the Church
archaic a learned or authoritative teacher
an artificial fishing fly
Aus, NZ a cook on board ship or at a station or camp
a cool onshore breeze in certain warm areas
go for the doctor
Aus, NZ to make a supreme effort
just what the doctor ordered
just the thing needed
doctorly adj
doctorship noun
[Middle English doctour teacher, doctor, via French from Latin doctor teacher, from docēre to teach]