pupil
1
[ pyoo-puhl ]
/ ˈpyu pəl /
noun
a person, usually young, who is learning under the close supervision of a teacher at school, a private tutor, or the like; student.
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.
Origin of pupil
1
1350–1400; Middle English
pupille < Middle French < Latin
pūpillus (masculine),
pūpilla (feminine) orphan, ward, diminutives of
pūpus boy,
pūpa girl
SYNONYMS FOR pupil
1
apprentice,
novice.
Pupil,
disciple,
scholar,
student refer to a person who is studying, usually in a school. 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 he or she considers 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.
OTHER WORDS FROM pupil
pu·pil·less, adjectiveWords nearby pupil
pup tent,
pupa,
puparium,
pupate,
pupfish,
pupil,
pupilage,
pupillage,
pupillarity,
pupillary,
pupillary distance
Definition for pupil (2 of 2)
pupil
2
[ pyoo-puh l ]
/ ˈpyu pəl /
noun Anatomy.
the expanding and contracting opening in the iris of the eye, through which light passes to the retina.
Origin of pupil
2
1350–1400; Middle English < Latin
pūpilla literally, little doll; for sense compare Greek
kórē girl, doll, pupil of the eye, alluding to the tiny reflections visible in the pupils. See
pupa
OTHER WORDS FROM pupil
pu·pil·less, adjectiveExample sentences from the Web for pupil
British Dictionary definitions for pupil (1 of 2)
pupil
1
/ (ˈpjuːpəl) /
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
Word Origin for pupil
C14: from Latin
pupillus an orphan, from
pūpus a child
British Dictionary definitions for pupil (2 of 2)
pupil
2
/ (ˈpjuːpəl) /
noun
the dark circular aperture at the centre of the iris of the eye, through which light enters
Word Origin for pupil
C16: from Latin
pūpilla, diminutive of
pūpa girl, puppet; from the tiny reflections in the eye
Medical definitions for pupil
pupil
[ pyōō′pəl ]
n.
The apparently black circular opening in the center of the iris of the eye, through which light passes to the retina.
Other words from pupil
pu′pi•lar adj.Scientific definitions for pupil
pupil
[ pyōō′pəl ]
The opening in the center of the iris through which light enters the eye.