copy

[ kop-ee ]

noun

plural copies,

1. an imitation, reproduction, or transcript of an original:

   a copy of a famous painting.

   Synonyms: facsimile, carbon, duplicate

2. one of the various examples or specimens of the same book, engraving, or the like.
3. written matter intended to be reproduced in printed form:

   The editor sent the copy for the next issue to the printer.

4. the text of a news story, advertisement, television commercial, etc., as distinguished from related visual material.
5. the newsworthiness of a person, thing, or event (often preceded by good or bad ): Compare news ( def 4 ).

   The president is always good copy.

6. Computers. an exact duplicate of a file, program, etc.:

   Keep a backup copy of the document.

7. Genetics. replication ( def 7 ).
8. Printing. pictures and artwork prepared for reproduction.
9. British Informal. (in schools) a composition; a written assignment.
10. British. a size of drawing or writing paper, 16 × 20 inches (40 × 50 centimeters).
11. Archaic. something that is to be reproduced; an example or pattern, as of penmanship to be copied by a pupil.

verb (used with object)

copied, copying.

1. to make a copy of; transcribe; reproduce:

   to copy a set of figures from a book.

2. to receive and understand (a radio message or its sender).
3. to follow as a pattern or model; imitate.

   Antonyms: originate

4. Computers. to make an exact duplicate of (a file, selected text, etc.) and store in another location or in temporary memory: Compare cut ( def 25 ), paste ( def 13 ).

   Can I copy the program to another computer? Copy the selected paragraph to the clipboard.

verb (used without object)

copied, copying.

1. to make a copy or copies.
2. to undergo copying:

   It copied poorly.

   I can't install the program—one file won't copy.

3. to hear or receive a radio message, as over a CB radio:

   Do you copy?

4. Also Newfoundland. to leap from one ice pan to another across open water.

copy

/ ˈkɒpɪ /

noun

1. an imitation or reproduction of an original
2. a single specimen of something that occurs in a multiple edition, such as a book, article, etc
3. 1. matter to be reproduced in print
   2. written matter or text as distinct from graphic material in books, newspapers, etc
4. the words used to present a promotional message in an advertisement
5. informal.
   journalism suitable material for an article or story

   disasters are always good copy

6. archaic.
   a model to be copied, esp an example of penmanship

verb

1. whentr, often foll by out to make a copy or reproduction of (an original)
2. tr to imitate as a model
3. intr to imitate unfairly

Other Word Forms

• pre·cop·y noun plural precopies verb (used with object) precopied precopying
• re·cop·y verb (used with object) recopied recopying
• un·cop·ied adjective
• well-cop·ied adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of copy¹

First recorded in 1300–50; Middle English copie (from Anglo-French ) from Medieval Latin cōpia “abundance, something copied,” Latin: “wealth, abundance”; copious; copy ( def 18 ) originally a children's game, from the phrase copy the leader

Word History and Origins

Origin of copy¹

C14: from Medieval Latin cōpia an imitation, something copied, from Latin: abundance, riches; see copious

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

1. copy the mail, Citizens Band Radio Slang. mail ¹( def 11 ).

Synonym Study

See imitate.

Example Sentences

First, she was a secretary, then she became a junior copywriter, working on liner notes and snappy ad copy.

From Salon

The benefits system is devolved in Northern Ireland but in practice the Stormont administration mostly copies what is happening in England and Wales.

From BBC

It's just that nobody has thought to copy him.

From BBC

I picked up “The Hunger Games” on a whim when it was still a single copy spine-out at the bookstore, knowing nothing about it other than that it had a curious title.

From Los Angeles Times

The school itself burnt 1,000 copies of the novel on its grounds, Vargas Llosa claimed.

From BBC

Related Words

• imitate
• paint
• photocopy
• plagiarize
• repeat
• replicate
• reproduce
• rewrite
• simulate
• transcribe