copy

[ kop-ee ]

noun

, plural cop·ies,

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)

, cop·ied, cop·y·ing.

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)

, cop·ied, cop·y·ing.

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 Words From

• 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

The Times obtained a copy of a video of the Oct.

From Los Angeles Times

Raw Story couldn’t show that because it couldn’t produce evidence that any of its content had been copied in answers to user queries and therefore that it had suffered “concrete harm.”

From Los Angeles Times

The prize website notes it has sold more copies than the last three Booker Prize winners combined before their wins.

From Los Angeles Times

A newly published copy of his death certificate dispels much of the mystery: According to that document, Valenzuela’s underlying cause of death was possibly related to a liver disease and liver failure.

From Los Angeles Times

When she refused, they copied the post to a blogging website, backdated it, and then claimed she had plagiarized it in an example of copyright infringement.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

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