general practitioner
7
2.7
- noun
- /ˈdʒɛnərəl prækˈtɪʃənər/
- Specialized
:
médico de cabecera
- When I have a cold, I usually visit my general practitioner for treatment.
- patients by general practitioner
- general practitioner and other physicians
- consultation with general practitioner
Examples
-
However, carers were critical of waiting times to access neurologists and questioned general practitioners' knowledge of the disease.
Academic text (2010) -
Studies have shown that few subjects with adolescent acne consult their general practitioner.
Academic text (2007) -
No serious side effects were reported by the parents or general practitioners.
Academic text (2000) -
His former bosses knew a little bit about everything, especially the general practitioners.
Academic text (2002) -
The kindly hands of the general practitioner who used to pat my mom.
Fiction book (1994) -
"I don't know how you stay on top of everything as a general practitioner," she says.
Academic text (2001) -
Randolph lived in Manhattan, where he had a successful medical practice as a general practitioner.
Fiction book (2001) -
Two general practitioners were unavailable for the interview, and one general practitioner refused to participate in the survey.
Academic text (2007) -
The number of allopathic general practitioners practicing in the area was obtained from local medical organizations.
Academic text (2007) -
Mrs. McKay has been recently widowed, and now frequently attends her general practitioner's surgery.
Academic text (1999)
Synonyms
674
3.8
A doctor who finds what is wrong and treats sick or injured people
17
2.0
A doctor who gives regular health care to all family members over many years
14
3.8
A doctor you see first for health problems who gives general care and arranges specialist help
13
3.5
A doctor qualified to treat patients
9
3.2
A doctor who gives general medical care to people
5
3.7
A person trained to treat sick or injured people, like a doctor
How Specialized
Surface Forms
Morphology
The meaning 'a medical doctor who treats a wide range of illnesses' is directly derived from combining 'general' (broad, non-specialized) with 'practitioner' (professional who practices a field). This compositional pattern is common and has direct equivalents in many languages, so a B1 learner who knows both constituents would readily infer the MWE's meaning.
Etymology
The name general practitioner comes from the words general (meaning 'many kinds') and practitioner (someone who practices medicine). It pictures a doctor who cares for many different problems rather than a 'specialist', so today it means 'a doctor who treats a wide range of illnesses'.