doctored
doctored — verb
1. to deliberately change information, numbers, documents, or images so that they a
to deliberately change information, numbers, documents, or images so that they are not true, usually to gain an advantage or avoid getting caught
Prosecutors say the accountant doctored the company records to hide the missing money.
passive avoided; active verb with human subject
Thao noticed the photo had been doctored when she saw the shadows did not match.
passive: be doctored (photo/image)
The lab report was doctored to make the drug seem safer than it actually was.
Diego suspected someone had doctored the election ballots when the count did not add up.
An investigation revealed that the scientist had doctored her research data for years.
- falsify
more formal; used for official documents or records
- tamper with
slightly more informal; can also mean meddling without necessarily lying
- forge
specifically means creating a fake copy of something, not just altering the original
- authenticate
to prove something is genuine
- verify
to check and confirm that something is true or correct
文法句型
be doctored + noun phrase
doctor + noun phrase
用法筆記
Commonly used in news reports about fraud, scandals, or legal cases. Passive voice is frequent when the agent is unknown or unimportant.
常見錯誤
2. to secretly add something dangerous, such as poison or a drug, to what someone i
to secretly add something dangerous, such as poison or a drug, to what someone is about to eat or drink without their knowledge
The police found that someone had doctored the wine bottle with a clear, odourless poison.
pattern: doctor + container + with + poison
Kofi rushed his neighbour to hospital after realising her tea had been doctored.
passive: tea/drink + had been doctored
The candy bars were doctored and then handed out to children during the festival.
Tests confirmed that the office water cooler had been doctored with a cleaning chemical.
文法句型
doctor + food/drink + with + substance
用法筆記
Distinguish from sense 1 (ALTER TO DECEIVE): this sense always involves a physical substance added to something consumable. The deception is about the substance, not about information.
3. to perform surgery on a domestic animal to remove its reproductive organs so it
to perform surgery on a domestic animal to remove its reproductive organs so it cannot have babies
The vet suggested getting the stray cats doctored to reduce the local kitten population.
pattern: get + animal(s) + doctored
Amara had her sheepdog doctored last spring, and he has calmed down since then.
pattern: have + animal + doctored
The animal shelter doctored every male rabbit before letting families adopt them.
Farmers often get their bulls doctored to make them easier to handle.
文法句型
get + animal + doctored
have + animal + doctored
用法筆記
More common in British and Australian English for this sense than American English, where 'neuter' or 'fix' is preferred. Usually applied to pets and farm animals, not wild animals.
常見錯誤
4. to give basic medical care to someone who is hurt or ill, often outside a hospit
to give basic medical care to someone who is hurt or ill, often outside a hospital setting and usually without formal training
Oliver's grandmother doctored his scraped knee with a bandage and a gentle hug.
informal register; family care context
The old fisherman doctored his crew's cuts and burns with herbs from his cabin.
During the long hike, Yuki doctored her friend's blisters using supplies from the first-aid kit.
The soldiers had to doctor one another's wounds in the field before help arrived.
文法句型
doctor + someone
用法筆記
This sense is considered old-fashioned or informal in modern English. It describes non-professional care, unlike sense 5 (REPAIR/RESTORE) which applies to objects, not people.
常見錯誤
5. to fix something broken or damaged in a quick or improvised way, often so it wor
to fix something broken or damaged in a quick or improvised way, often so it works just well enough for immediate use
Oliver doctored the old radio with sticky tape and a paperclip, and it played again.
improvised repair with available materials
The mechanic doctored the leaking pipe by wrapping it tightly with rubber and wire.
When the fan belt snapped on the highway, Ngozi doctored it with a nylon stocking.
Zola doctored the loose leg of the wooden chair by hammering in two extra nails.
文法句型
doctor + object + back into shape/working order
用法筆記
The repair is typically temporary or improvised — a permanent fix by a professional would use 'repair' or 'restore' instead. Distinguish from sense 4 (TREAT MEDICALLY): this applies to objects, not people or animals.
doctored — noun
1. someone who has finished medical school and is officially permitted to examine a
someone who has finished medical school and is officially permitted to examine and care for people who are unwell or injured
Lucia went to the doctor for a fever and a cough that kept her awake.
collocation: go to the doctor
The doctor told Rohan to rest for two days and drink plenty of water.
A good doctor listens carefully to what the patient says before deciding on a treatment.
Haruki called the doctor when his baby sister's temperature rose suddenly at midnight.
The village doctor visits older patients at home when they cannot travel to the clinic.
- physician
more formal; often refers to specialists rather than GPs
- medic
informal; used especially in military contexts
- GP (general practitioner)
a family doctor who treats a wide range of conditions
- patient
the person receiving treatment
文法句型
see/go to + a doctor
doctor + verb (treats/prescribes)
常見錯誤
2. the room, office, or clinic where a doctor sees and treats patients
the room, office, or clinic where a doctor sees and treats patients
Grace waited an hour at the doctor's before the nurse called her name.
collocation: at the doctor's
The doctor's was packed with patients suffering from the winter flu.
the doctor's as a place reference
Emma left her umbrella at the doctor's and returned the next day to fetch it.
The doctor's waiting room had old magazines and a fish tank that children loved.
- doctor's surgery
common in British English
- doctor's office
standard in American English
- clinic
a larger medical facility that may have several doctors
文法句型
at the doctor's
go to the doctor's
用法筆記
Used with a possessive apostrophe: 'at the doctor's'. Common in British English; American English prefers 'the doctor's office'. Always refers to the location, not the person.
3. someone who has obtained the most advanced degree offered by a university, for e
someone who has obtained the most advanced degree offered by a university, for example a PhD, or who has been given this honour by an institution
Professor Mei-Lin is a doctor of chemistry and has published over forty research papers.
pattern: doctor of + academic field
The university gave the writer an honorary doctorate, making her a doctor of literature.
After researching for seven years, Jack became a doctor when his climate thesis was accepted.
The conference brought together doctors of law, medicine, and engineering from twenty different countries.
Calling a PhD holder 'Dr.' uses an academic title, not a medical one.
- PhD holder
more specific; refers to someone with a Doctor of Philosophy degree
- academic doctor
used to distinguish from a medical doctor when needed
文法句型
Dr. + surname
doctor + in + field
用法筆記
Distinguish from sense 1 (MEDICAL PRACTITIONER): this sense refers to anyone who holds a doctorate (PhD, EdD, etc.), not just medical doctors. In academic writing, 'Dr.' before a name can mean either — context tells you which.