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View synonyms for

copy

[ kop-ee ]

noun

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

    a copy of a famous painting.

    Synonyms: , ,

  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. Printing. pictures and artwork prepared for reproduction.
  8. British Informal. (in schools) a composition; a written assignment.
  9. British. a size of drawing or writing paper, 16 × 20 inches (40 × 50 centimeters).
  10. 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:

  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

/ ˈɒɪ /

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
    1. matter to be reproduced in print
    2. written matter or text as distinct from graphic material in books, newspapers, etc
  3. the words used to present a promotional message in an advertisement
  4. informal.
    journalism suitable material for an article or story

    disasters are always good copy

  5. archaic.
    a model to be copied, esp an example of penmanship
“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

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
“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
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Other Word Forms

  • ·DZ· noun plural precopies verb (used with object) precopied precopying
  • ·DZ· verb (used with object) recopied recopying
  • ܲ·DZ· adjective
  • ɱ-DZ· adjective
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Word History and Origins

Origin of copy1

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

Origin of copy1

C14: from Medieval Latin ō辱 an imitation, something copied, from Latin: abundance, riches; see copious
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Idioms and Phrases

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

See imitate.
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Example Sentences

Examples have not been reviewed.

The trilogy's first two books have sold 49 million copies around the world, publisher Midas said.

From

Some managers are trying to copy the model.

From

The next participant tried to copy her but was unable to align their SUP with the fish pass and was washed over its right hand side and swept downstream.

From

A spokesperson for Gordon Brown said he "would not have been shown the memo" from 20 May 1999 and he would have been copied in as a "formality".

From

She learned to cultivate her press relationships, always ready with a quick, clever reply that would make great copy.

From

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Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.

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