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Definition of pupil noun from the Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary

pupil

noun
 
 
/ˈpjuːpl/
 
/ˈpjuːpl/
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  1.  
     (especially British English, becoming old-fashioned) a person who is being taught, especially a child in a school
    • school pupils
    • a former/past pupil
    • How many pupils does the school have?
    • She now teaches only private pupils.
    • Spending per pupil will rise.
    Synonyms studentstudentpupil ▪ schoolboy/​schoolchild/​schoolgirlThese are all words for a child who attends school.student a person who is studying in a school, especially an older child:
    • Students are required to be in school by 8.30.
    • Any high school student could tell you the answer.
    pupil (British English) a person who is being taught, especially a child in a school:
    • The school has over 850 pupils.
    Pupil is used only in British English and is starting to become old-fashioned. Student is often preferred, especially by teachers and other people involved in education, and especially when talking about older children.    schoolboy/​schoolgirl/​schoolchild a boy, girl or child who attends school:
    • Since she was a schoolgirl she had dreamed of going on the stage.
    These words emphasize the age of the children or this period in their lives; they are less often used to talk about teaching and learning: an able schoolboy/​schoolgirl/​schoolchild     Patterns
    • a(n) good/​bright/​able/​brilliant/​star/​outstanding student/​pupil
    • a naughty schoolboy/​schoolgirl/​schoolchild
    • a disruptive student/​pupil
    • a(n) ex-/former student/​pupil
    • a school student/​pupil
    • to teach students/​pupils/​schoolboys/​schoolgirls/​schoolchildren
    see also day pupil
    Extra Examples
    • Daniel is the star pupil at school.
    • secondary school pupils
    • Ex-pupils try to have a reunion every five years.
    • Pupils at Meadow School have raised £1 500 for charity.
    • The school has over 850 pupils.
    • What measures can we take to deal with disruptive pupils?
    • We expect pupil numbers to increase next year.
    Topics Educationb2
    Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadjective
    • able
    • bright
    • good
    • …
    verb + pupil
    • teach
    • exclude
    • expel
    • …
    pupil + noun
    • attendance
    • numbers
    • assessment
    • …
    See full entry
  2.  
     a person who is taught artistic, musical, etc. skills by an expert
    • Charpentier took pupils and taught them composition and accompanying.
    • pupil of somebody The painting is by a pupil of Rembrandt.
  3. the small round black area at the centre of the eye
    • Her pupils were dilated.
    compare irisTopics Bodyc2
    Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadjective
    • dilated
    verb + pupil
    • dilate
    • enlarge
    pupil + verb
    • dilate
    • enlarge
    See full entry
    4. Word Originsenses 1 to 2 late Middle English (in the sense ‘orphan, ward’): from Old French pupille, from Latin pupillus (diminutive of pupus ‘boy’) and pupilla (diminutive of pupa ‘girl’).sense 3 late Middle English: from Old French pupille or Latin pupilla, diminutive of pupa ‘doll’ (so named from the tiny reflected images visible in the eye).
See pupil in the Oxford Advanced American DictionarySee pupil in the Oxford Learner's Dictionary of Academic English
Check pronunciation: pupil

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