Definition

1. Proper noun:
   • Maryland: A state in the Mid-Atlantic region of the United States; one of the original 13 colonies. Its official postal abbreviation is MD.
2. Noun:
   • Doctor of Medicine: An abbreviation for the academic degree "Medicinae Doctor," a terminal professional degree for physicians and surgeons.
   • Medical Doctor: An abbreviation for a licensed medical practitioner; a physician.
   • Mendelevium: The symbol for the radioactive, synthetic chemical element with atomic number 101. (Note: Md is the current symbol; Mv was used formerly.)

Usage Examples

• Proper noun (Maryland):
  • Baltimore is the largest city in MD.
  • We drove through MD on our way to Washington, D.C.
• Noun (Degree):
  • After years of study, she finally earned her MD.
  • The title "John Smith, MD" indicates he is a doctor of medicine.
• Noun (Practitioner):
  • You should schedule an appointment with your MD.
  • The MD reviewed the patient's chart.
• Noun (Element):
  • Element Md is produced in particle accelerators.
  • Mendelevium (Md) has no stable isotopes.

Advanced Usage

• In formal titles and correspondence: "MD" is used post-nominally to signify the medical degree or license.
  • The letter was signed by Alicia Chen, MD.
• In addresses and official contexts: "MD" is used as the standard two-letter postal code for the state of Maryland.
  • Please mail the package to: 123 Main St, Baltimore, MD 21201.

Variants and Related Words

• DO: Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine (a similar but distinct professional degree for physicians in the United States).
• MBBS: Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery (a common equivalent medical degree in many other countries).
• Physician: A more formal synonym for a medical doctor.
• Med: A common informal shortening for medical school, medicine, or medical student (e.g., "She's in med school").

Synonyms

• For Medical Doctor: physician, doctor, medic, clinician.
• For Maryland: (the Old Line State) - (No direct synonym as a proper noun).

Related Phrases

• MD-PhD: A dual doctoral degree program for physician-scientists.
  • He is pursuing an MD-PhD to conduct medical research.
• MD Anderson: Refers to the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, a famous hospital.
  • She received treatment at MD Anderson.

Notes on Usage

• When referring to the degree or the practitioner, "MD" is typically written with periods in American English (M.D.), though the unpunctuated form is also widely accepted. The postal abbreviation for the state never uses periods.
• The context usually makes the meaning clear (e.g., a state on a map vs. a title on a name badge).

Noun

1. a doctor's degree in medicine
2. a Mid-Atlantic state; one of the original 13 colonies
3. a licensed medical practitioner
   • I felt so bad I went to see my doctor
4. a radioactive transuranic element synthesized by bombarding einsteinium with alpha particles (Md is the current symbol for mendelevium but Mv was formerly the symbol)