copy

American  

[kop-ee] / ˈkɒp i /

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 orbad ).

   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.

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.

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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.

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

idioms

1. copy the mail,  mail.

copy British  

/ 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

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verb

1. to make a copy or reproduction of (an original)

2. (tr) to imitate as a model

3. (intr) to imitate unfairly

Related Words

See imitate.

Other Word Forms

• precopy noun
• recopy verb (used with object)
• uncopied adjective
• well-copied adjective

Etymology

Origin of copy

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

Example Sentences

They are trying to copy what we’ve spent 30 proxy seasons perfecting.

From The Wall Street Journal

Quantum information cannot be amplified or copied, which means this approach does not work.

From Science Daily

According to SMA UK, the drug delivers a healthy copy of the affected gene to the body, but timing is critical because irreversible damage may have already occurred in the nervous system.

From BBC

As Mazzuckelli and other women dressed like Handmaids sat on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial alongside a massive copy of the U.S.

From Salon

The most precocious have become known as "Sephora Kids" -- a reference to the popular French beauty retailer -- as they seek to copy popular TikTok or YouTube influencers, some of whom are as young as seven.

From Barron's

Related Words

• image
• model
• photocopy
• photograph
• portrait
• print
• replica
• reproduction
• transcript
• type