PUPIL Definition & Meaning

View synonyms for

pupil

[pyoo-puhl]

Phonetic (Standard)IPA

noun

a person, usually young, who is learning under the close supervision of a teacher at school, a private tutor, or the like; student.
Synonyms: ,
Civil Law.��an orphaned or emancipated minor under the care of a guardian.
Roman Law.��a person under the age of puberty orphaned or emancipated, and under the care of a guardian.

pupil

[pyoo-puhl]

Phonetic (Standard)IPA

noun

Anatomy.

the expanding and contracting opening in the iris of the eye, through which light passes to the retina.

pupil

/ ˈ��ː��ə�� /

noun

a student who is taught by a teacher, esp a young student
civil law Scots law a boy under 14 or a girl under 12 who is in the care of a guardian

pupil

/ ˈ��ː��ə�� /

noun

the dark circular aperture at the centre of the iris of the eye, through which light enters

pupil

The opening in the center of the iris through which light enters the eye.

pupil

The seemingly black, central opening in the iris of the eye, through which light enters.

Discover More

Other 51�Թ� Forms

pupilless adjective

Discover More

51�Թ� History and Origins

Origin of pupil¹

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English pupille, from Middle French, from Latin ��ū�辱��ܲ� (masculine), ��ū�辱�� (feminine) “orphan, ward,” diminutives of ��ū��ܲ� “b�ǲ�,” ��ū�貹 “g��”

Origin of pupil²

1350–1400; Middle English < Latin ��ū�辱�� literally, little doll; for sense compare Greek ��ó��ŧ girl, doll, pupil of the eye, alluding to the tiny reflections visible in the pupils. See pupa

Discover More

51�Թ� History and Origins

Origin of pupil¹

C14: from Latin pupillus an orphan, from ��ū��ܲ� a child

Origin of pupil²

C16: from Latin ��ū�辱��, diminutive of ��ū�貹 girl, puppet; from the tiny reflections in the eye

Discover More

Synonym Study

Pupil, disciple, scholar, student refer to a person who is the recipient of education or mentoring. A pupil is one under the close supervision of a teacher, either because of youth or of specialization in some branch of study: a grade-school pupil; the pupil of a famous musician. A disciple is one who follows the teachings or doctrines of a person whom they consider to be a master or authority: a disciple of Swedenborg. Scholar, once meaning the same as pupil, is today usually applied to one who has acquired wide erudition in some field of learning: a great Latin scholar. A student is a person attending an educational institution or someone who has devoted much attention to a particular problem: a college student; a student of politics.

Discover More

Example Sentences

Examples have not been reviewed.

He had been violent on two occasions against fellow pupils, and was suspended for a day each time.

From

The number of school pupils in England receiving support for special educational needs rose to more than 1.7 million, according to annual statistics from the Department for Education released on Thursday.

From

Falling pupil numbers means the department can make some savings, but that money still has to pay for an awful lot.

From

"We saw one pupil at the window - it looked like he was getting ready to jump out... but then he went back inside," Franz said.

From

Officials said three students were later rescued, but it was unclear how many pupils were on the bus, which has since been found on a riverbank with no-one inside.

From

Related 51�Թ�s

��www.thesaurus.com
learner��
senior��
student��
undergraduate��

Discover More

When To Use

What does pupil mean?

A pupil is a person who is learning under a teacher or instructor. In this sense, pupil is often used when the student is young but does not strictly apply to young people.In legal terms, pupil can refer to a minor who is under the care of a legal guardian who is not one of their parents.In anatomy, a pupil is the opening in the iris of the eye. Light passes through the pupil into the retina at the back of the eyeball, where images are received.Example: I train my pupils to keep up on their readings by assigning them quizzes.

pupfish pupilage

Browse