| 1. | any of several academic degrees of the highest rank, as the Ph.D. or Ed.D., awarded by universities and some colleges for completing advanced work in graduate school or a professional school. |
| 2. | an honorary degree conferring the title of doctor upon the recipient, as with the LL.D. degree. |
| 3. | a degree awarded to a graduate of a school of medicine, dentistry, or veterinary science. |