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View synonyms for

pupil

1

[ pyoo-puhl ]

noun

  1. a person, usually young, who is learning under the close supervision of a teacher at school, a private tutor, or the like; student.

    Synonyms: ,

  2. Civil Law. an orphaned or emancipated minor under the care of a guardian.
  3. Roman Law. a person under the age of puberty orphaned or emancipated, and under the care of a guardian.


pupil

2

[ pyoo-puhl ]

noun

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

pupil

1

/ ˈːə /

noun

  1. a student who is taught by a teacher, esp a young student
  2. civil law Scots law a boy under 14 or a girl under 12 who is in the care of a guardian
“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

pupil

2

/ ˈːə /

noun

  1. the dark circular aperture at the centre of the iris of the eye, through which light enters
“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

pupil

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

pupil

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

  • ·辱· adjective
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Word 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 ūܲ “bDz,” ū貹 “g”

Origin of pupil2

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

Origin of pupil1

C14: from Latin pupillus an orphan, from ūܲ a child

Origin of pupil2

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

Examples have not been reviewed.

Parent Abbey Riley, 35, said pupils got detentions for "silly little things" and added: "You lose a pen, you get detention; you talk, you get detention."

From

She said her former pupil - who she affectionately referred to as "Floss" - "always had star quality".

From

Two primary schools in Islington borough are to close at the end of the summer term due to falling pupil numbers, it has been confirmed.

From

It has about 125 pupils, who have been learning from home.

From

In addition to that, the gap between the results achieved by Scotland's richest and poorest school pupils is as wide as it was a decade ago when the government named it as a priority.

From

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More About Pupil

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.

Where does pupil come from?

The first records of the student sense of pupil come from the 1300s. It ultimately comes from the Latin ū辱ܲ and ū辱, meaning “orphan” or “ward.” While not every apprentice or student is an orphan, the teacher can take a similar role as a parent or leader that helps their students learn. The first records of the anatomy sense of pupil comes from the same Latin ū辱, which also means “little doll.”

Pupils vary from species to species, and some species do not have them at all. For example, the pupils of cats, reptiles, and foxes are thin, vertical slits that help their depth perception when they’re hunting at night. Goats’ pupils are horizontal rectangles, which increase their peripheral vision, while dolphins’ pupils are shaped like crescents to help them see light under the water.

Did you know … ?

are some other forms related to pupil?

are some synonyms for pupil?

are some words that share a root or word element with pupil?

are some words that often get used in discussing pupil?

How is pupil used in real life?

Pupil is a common word that is frequently used to refer to a student or the part of the eye that lets in light.

Try using pupil!

Which of the following is NOT a synonym for pupil?

A. student
B. apprentice
C. trainee
D. teacher

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