copula

[ kop-yuh-luh ]
See synonyms for copula on Thesaurus.com
noun,plural cop·u·las, cop·u·lae [kop-yuh-lee]. /ˈkɒp yəˌli/.
  1. something that connects or links together.

  2. Also called linking verb. Grammar. a verb, as be, seem, or look, that serves as a connecting link or establishes an identity between subject and complement.: Compare action verb.

  1. Logic. a word or set of words that acts as a connecting link between the subject and predicate of a proposition.

Origin of copula

1
1640–50; <Latin cōpula, equivalent to co-co- + ap- fasten (see apt) + -ula-ule

Other words from copula

  • cop·u·lar, adjective

Words that may be confused with copula

Words Nearby copula

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How to use copula in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for copula

copula

/ (ˈkɒpjʊlə) /


nounplural -las or -lae (-ˌliː)
  1. a verb, such as be, seem, or taste, that is used merely to identify or link the subject with the complement of a sentence. Copulas may serve to link nouns (or pronouns), as in he became king, nouns (or pronouns) and adjectival complements, as in sugar tastes sweet, or nouns (or pronouns) and adverbial complements, as in John is in jail

  2. anything that serves as a link

  1. logic the often unexpressed link between the subject and predicate terms of a categorial proposition, as are in all men are mortal

Origin of copula

1
C17: from Latin: bond, connection, from co- together + apere to fasten

Derived forms of copula

  • copular, adjective

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