pupil
Pluralpupils
- 1The dark, round opening in the center of the eye that lets light in.
Like the opening of a camera that gets bigger or smaller to control how much light comes in.
In bright light, the pupil gets smaller to let in less light.
The doctor shone a small light to see how each pupil reacted.
Note
- 2A child who studies at a school with a teacher in charge.
Every pupil in the class raised a hand to answer.
The new pupil sat quietly at the back of the room.
Similarstudent, schoolchild, learner
Oppositeteacher
Note
- 3Someone who learns a skill or subject directly from a great expert.
Like learning to paint by working right next to a great artist every day.
She was a pupil of a famous violin teacher for ten years.
As a young pupil of the master chef, he learned every classic recipe.
Similarstudent, disciple, apprentice
Note
- 4The dark center of an eye-shaped spot on an animal, like on a feather.
Like the dark dot in the middle of a painted eye.
Each spot on the peacock feather has a dark pupil in its middle.
The butterfly's wing markings have a bright ring around a black pupil.
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Less common meaning
- 5A child without parents who is cared for and protected by the state.
Like a child whose guardian is the government instead of a parent.
The court named the boy a pupil of the state after his parents died.
As a pupil under the city's care, she was given food and shelter.
Note
Practice
Can you tell the meanings of pupil apart? Answer 4 quick questions from this page, or write your own sentence and AI will check it.
Origins
From Latin pupillus meaning "orphan" or "minor," which came from pupus meaning "child" or "boy."
From Latin pupilla, meaning "little girl" or "doll," named for the tiny reflected image you see in someone's eye.