noun
pupil
PYOO-puhl
noun
1
A student, especially a younger one being taught under a teacher's supervision.
"The teacher praised her star pupil for the excellent essay."
"Pupils lined up outside the classroom before the bell rang."
2
The round opening in the center of the eye's iris that lets light in.
"The doctor shone a light in his eye to check how quickly the pupil contracted."
How to Use Pupil
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishEither a student in school, or the black circle in the middle of your eye.
Common pairings
a promising pupil
dilated pupil
former pupil
Word Forms
pupils plural, pupils plural
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Etymology
From Latin pupillus ("orphan, ward, little boy"), a diminutive of pupus ("child"). The eye sense comes from the same Latin word because of the tiny reflected image of a person visible in someone's eye, like a miniature "little person."