phd dictionary

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Meaning of PhD in English

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• associate's degree
• baccalaureate
• do a degree
• Doctor of Medicine
• doctorate in something
• Master of Arts
• Master of Science
• Master's degree
• postgraduate
• Postgraduate Certificate in Education
• second degree
• summa cum laude

Ph.D. | American Dictionary

Translations of phd.

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Word of the Day

free to do what you like and go where you like because you have no responsibilities such as a family or a relationship

A safe pair of hands (Newspaper idioms)

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Definition of PhD noun from the Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary

• to do/have/be a PhD
• Anne Thomas, PhD
• acquire/​get/​lack (an) education/​training/ (British English) (some) qualifications
• receive/​provide somebody with training/​tuition
• develop/​design/​plan a curriculum/ (especially British English) course/ (North American English) program/​syllabus
• give/​go to/​attend a class/​lesson/​lecture/​seminar
• hold/​run/​conduct a class/​seminar/​workshop
• sign up for/​take a course/​classes/​lessons
• go to/​start preschool/​kindergarten/​nursery school
• be in (North American English) the first, second, etc. grade/ (British English) year 1, 2. etc. (at school)
• study/​take/​drop history/​chemistry/​German, etc.
• (British English) leave/​finish/​drop out of/ (North American English) quit school
• (North American English) graduate high school/​college
• be the victim/​target of bullying
• (British English) play truant from/ (both British English, informal) bunk off/​skive off school (= not go to school when you should)
• (both especially North American English) skip/​cut class/​school
• (British English) cheat in/ (North American English) cheat on an exam/​a test
• get/​be given a detention (for doing something)
• be expelled from/​be suspended from school
• do your homework/ (British English) revision/​a project on something
• work on/​write/​do/​submit an essay/​a dissertation/​a thesis/​an assignment/ (North American English) a paper
• finish/​complete your dissertation/​thesis/​studies/​coursework
• hand in/ (North American English) turn in your homework/​essay/​assignment/​paper
• study/​prepare/ (British English) revise/ (North American English) review/ (North American English, informal) cram for a test/​an exam
• take/ (both British English) do/​sit a test/​an exam
• (especially British English) mark/ (especially North American English) grade homework/​a test
• (British English) do well in/ (North American English) do well on/ (especially North American English, informal) ace a test/​an exam
• pass/​fail/ (especially North American English, informal) flunk a test/​an exam/​a class/​a course/​a subject
• apply to/​get into/​go to/​start college/ (British English) university
• leave/​graduate from law school/​college/ (British English) university (with a degree in computer science)
• study for/​take/ (British English) do/​complete a law degree/​a degree in physics
• (both North American English) major/​minor in biology/​philosophy
• earn/​receive/​be awarded/​get/​have/​hold a master’s degree/​a bachelor’s degree/​a PhD in economics
• dissertation

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Definition of 'PhD'

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• PhD student
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What does the noun PhD mean?

There is one meaning in OED's entry for the noun PhD . See ‘Meaning & use’ for definition, usage, and quotation evidence.

How common is the noun PhD ?

Where does the noun phd come from.

Earliest known use

The earliest known use of the noun PhD is in the 1830s.

OED's earliest evidence for PhD is from 1839, in Journal of Royal Geographical Society .

PhD is formed from Latin Philosophiae Doctor .

Nearby entries

• phasitron, n. 1946–
• phasm, n. 1656–
• phasma, n. 1635–
• phasmid, n. 1864–
• phason, n. 1970–
• phasor, n. 1944–
• phassachate, n. 1634–1828
• phat, adj. 1963–
• phatagin, n. 1774–
• phatic, adj. 1923–
• PhD, n. 1839–
• pH-dependent, adj. 1949–
• Phe, n.¹ 1922–
• Phe, n.² 1945–
• pheal, n. 1879–95
• pheasant, n. c1299–
• pheasant cock, n. 1324–
• pheasant colour | pheasant color, n. 1588–
• pheasant-coloured | pheasant-colored, adj. 1864–
• pheasant coucal, n. 1801–
• pheasant cuckoo, n. 1827–

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Meaning & use

Entry history for phd, n..

Originally published as part of the entry for P, n.

P, n. was revised in December 2005.

oed.com is a living text, updated every three months. Modifications may include:

• further revisions to definitions, pronunciation, etymology, headwords, variant spellings, quotations, and dates;
• new senses, phrases, and quotations.

Earlier versions of this entry were published in:

OED First Edition (1904)

• Find out more

OED Second Edition (1989)

• View P in OED Second Edition

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Citation details

Factsheet for phd, n., browse entry.