pupilnoun [ C ]
uk/ˈpjuː.pəl/us/ˈpjuː.pəl/pupil noun [ C ] (STUDENT)
A2 a person, especially a child at school, who is being taught:
a second-year pupil
a primary-school pupil
The school has over 400 pupils.
There is a very relaxed atmosphere between staff and pupils at the school.
Her school report described her as a very promising pupil.
someone who is being taught a skill, especially painting or music, by an expert:
The painting is believed to be by a pupil of Titian.
More examples
- The stupid behaviour of one pupil has brought discredit on the whole school.
- All pupils are expected to attend school assembly.
- The government has pooh-poohed the idea that primary schools will begin to select pupils.
- The vast majority of pupils attend state-funded schools.
- The artist himself did not paint the backgrounds to his pictures - they were done by his pupils.
Thesaurus: synonyms and related words
Students & pupils
- -grader
- alumna
- alumnus
- attrition
- batchmate
- boarder
- entrant
- frosh
- graduate
- houseman
- infant
- intern
- internship
- learner
- schoolchild
- schoolgirl
- schoolmate
- sixth-former
- sophomore
- theologian
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pupil noun [ C ] (EYE PART)
the circular black area in the centre of an eye, through which light enters:
Pupils contract in bright light, and dilate in darkness.
Thesaurus: synonyms and related words
The eye & surrounding area
- aqueous humour
- ciliary muscle
- compound eye
- epiretinal membrane
- eyeball
- eyelid
- fovea
- glassy
- hooded
- infraorbital
- iris
- lacrimal
- lens
- lid
- oculomotor
- optic nerve
- stare
- suspensory ligament
- vitreous humour
- wink
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