1 top scorer in the palace examination (highest rank of the Imperial examination system)
2 see 榜眼[bǎng yǎn] and 探花[tàn huā]
3 top scorer in college entrance examination 高考[gāo kǎo]
4 (fig.) the most brilliantly talented person in the field
5 leading light
Idioms (3)
一元复始
yī yuán fù shǐ
1 a new year begins (idiom)
元恶大憝
yuán è dà duì
1 arch-criminal and archenemy (idiom)
行行出状元
háng háng chū zhuàng yuán
1 lit. in every trade, a master appears (idiom); fig. You can produce outstanding achievements in any task, provided you put it enough love and diligence