doctor

/ˈdɒktə(r)/ (bre, ipa) · /ˈdɑːktər/ (ame, ipa) · /ˈdäk-tər/ (ame, mw) · /ˈdɒk.tər/ (bre, ipa) · /ˈdɑːk.tɚ/ (ame, ipa)

doctor — noun

  • doctorsingular
  • doctorsplural

1. someone qualified in medicine who examines health problems and gives treatment f

1.名詞A1
釋義

someone qualified in medicine who examines health problems and gives treatment for illnesses or injuries

例句

Diya went to the doctor because her cough would not go away.

go to the doctor (common phrase)

The doctor told Mr. Lam his blood pressure was high and suggested eating less salt.

doctor + tell + person + that-clause

同義詞
  • physician

    more formal; often restricted to non-surgeons in British English

  • GP

    short for general practitioner; treats all kinds of conditions as first contact

  • surgeon

    a doctor who performs operations

  • medic

    informal; often used in military or student contexts

用法筆記

Used as a title (Dr.) before a person's surname: Dr. Chen. In British English, 'doctor' also covers dentists; in American English, 'Dr.' can refer to both medical doctors and academic degree holders.

常見錯誤

❌I went to see a doctor for my headache.' (sentence is correct but 'see a doctor' is more natural as 'go to the doctor').
✅I went to the doctor for my headache.
💡'go to the doctor' is the fixed phrase.
❌I need to see Dr. for my cough.
✅I need to see Dr. Chen for my cough.
💡'Dr.' must always be followed by a name.

2. the room, clinic, or building where a doctor meets and treats patients

2.名詞A2
釋義

the room, clinic, or building where a doctor meets and treats patients

例句

At the doctor, Sade waited while a nurse prepared the exam room for her check-up.

go to the doctor (place meaning)

The nurse at the doctor's office told Quan to sit in the waiting room.

同義詞
  • surgery

    British English term for a doctor's office or clinic

  • clinic

    a facility where patients receive medical treatment, often larger than a single doctor's office

  • practice

    the business or location where a doctor sees patients

用法筆記

"The doctor" can refer to the place of work rather than the person, especially in phrases like "go to the doctor" or "at the doctor." In American English, "the doctor's office" is more explicit.

常見錯誤

❌I left my bag at the doctor place.
✅I left my bag at the doctor.
💡'at the doctor' already means the doctor's office.
❌I need to find a doctor near my house.' (ambiguous between person and place).
✅I need to find a doctor's office near my house.
💡use 'doctor's office' for the building.

3. someone who has been given a university's highest academic title, for example a

3.名詞B2
釋義

someone who has been given a university's highest academic title, for example a Doctor of Philosophy

例句

Dr. Padma Kapoor, a doctor of physics, won an international research award.

doctor of + field (academic title)

Ravindra earned his doctorate in chemistry at the age of twenty-six.

同義詞
  • PhD

    refers to the degree itself, not the person; 'a PhD in history'

  • doctorate

    the degree itself; 'earn a doctorate'

  • postdoc

    a researcher with a PhD doing further study, not the holder of the title itself

用法筆記

Always used with a specification of the academic field: "doctor of philosophy," "doctor of laws," etc. As a title (Dr.), it is used before the surname in both academic and medical contexts, which can cause ambiguity.

常見錯誤

❌She is a doctor in biology.' (rarely used).
✅She is a doctor of biology.' or 'She has a doctorate in biology.
💡use 'doctor of + field' for the degree.
❌Dr. Smith, who is a medical doctor, has a PhD.' (confusing).
✅Dr. Smith, who is both an MD and a PhD, has two doctorates.
💡use context to clarify which type of doctor.

doctor — verb