*doctor*

v. i. To practice physic. [ Colloq. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ OF. doctur, L. doctor, teacher, fr. docere to teach. See Docile. ] 1. A teacher; one skilled in a profession, or branch of knowledge; a learned man. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

One of the doctors of Italy, Nicholas Macciavel. Bacon. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. An academical title, originally meaning a man so well versed in his department as to be qualified to teach it. Hence: One who has taken the highest degree conferred by a university or college, or has received a diploma of the highest degree; as, a doctor of divinity, of law, of medicine, of music, or of philosophy. Such diplomas may confer an honorary title only. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. One duly licensed to practice medicine; a member of the medical profession; a physician. [ 1913 Webster ]

By medicine life may be prolonged, yet death
Will seize the doctor too. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. Any mechanical contrivance intended to remedy a difficulty or serve some purpose in an exigency; as, the doctor of a calico-printing machine, which is a knife to remove superfluous coloring matter; the doctor, or auxiliary engine, called also donkey engine. [ 1913 Webster ]

5. (Zool.) The friar skate. [ Prov. Eng. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

Doctors' Commons. See under Commons. --
Doctor's stuff, physic, medicine. G. Eliot. --
Doctor fish (Zool.), any fish of the genus Acanthurus; the surgeon fish; -- so called from a sharp lancetlike spine on each side of the tail. Also called barber fish. See Surgeon fish. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ Cf. F. doctoral. ] Of or relating to a doctor, or to the degree of doctor. [ 1913 Webster ]

Doctoral habit and square cap. Wood. [ 1913 Webster ]

adv. In the manner of a doctor.[ R. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Cf. F. doctorat. ] The degree, title, or rank, of a doctor. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. To make (one) a doctor. [ 1913 Webster ]

He was bred . . . in Oxford and there doctorated. Fuller. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. A female doctor.[ R. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Like a doctor or learned man. [ Obs. ] “Doctorly prelates.” Foxe. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. Doctorate. [ R. ] Clarendon. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. a spokesperson for a political party or candidate who tries to forestall negative publicity. [ WordNet 1.5 ]