# puppet

/ˈpəpət/ (US) · /pˈʌpɪt/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/puppet
Updated: 2026-06-20

## Senses

### 1. movable model

noun · CEFR A2

a small figure of a person or animal that you move using strings, sticks, or your hand.

For teachers: a small-scale figure representing a human or animal, manipulated by strings, rods, or the hand of a performer.

- The children laughed as the puppet danced across the stage on its strings.
- The master puppeteer spent months carving the wooden joints to ensure the puppet moved with lifelike fluidity during the performance.

### 2. controlled person or group

noun · CEFR B2

a person, group, or country that is controlled by a more powerful person or group.

For teachers: a person, organisation, or state that is ostensibly independent but actually controlled by an external authority.

- The king was just a puppet, and his advisors made all the real decisions.
- Historians argue that the local administration was merely a puppet of the occupying forces, lacking any genuine legislative autonomy.

### 3. lathe support

noun · CEFR C2 · Technical

a part of a machine called a lathe that holds a spinning piece of wood or metal.

For teachers: an upright support for the bearing of the spindle in a lathe.

- The engineer adjusted the puppet on the lathe to keep the metal rod steady.
- Precision in the alignment of the puppet is essential for maintaining the concentricity of the workpiece during high-speed rotation.

### 4. to control someone

verb · CEFR C1 · Literary

to control or move someone as if they were a puppet.

For teachers: to manipulate or control a person or entity in a deceptive or hidden manner.

- He felt that his manager was trying to puppet his every move at work.
- The shadowy organisation attempted to puppet the election results by funding several rival candidates simultaneously.

## Examples

- The children laughed at the funny hand puppet.
- The street performer used a wooden puppet to act out scenes from local folk tales for the passing tourists.
- While the play was ostensibly a children's comedy, the intricate movements of the shadow puppets suggested a much deeper, more melancholic narrative about the loss of innocence.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.