Student embraced by Iris? (5)
I believe the answer is:
pupil
'student' is the definition.
(synonyms)
I don't understand how the rest of the clue works.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for pupil that I've seen before include "Learner in the eye?" , "one may see through!" , "part of my anatomy" , "Dark centre of the eye" , "One studying" .)