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 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.

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.

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

2. (tr) to imitate as a model

3. (intr) to imitate unfairly

Other Word Forms

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

Synonym Study

See imitate.

Example Sentences

We look to movies and celebrities and, above all, copy each other.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

He attached a copy of a letter from the victims’ lawyers.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Facebook and its photo-sharing app Instagram copied Snapchat’s signature features including Stories, which allowed people to post images and videos that vanish after 24 hours.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

The labels accused Udio and Suno of profiting from copying existing songs, claiming the platforms produced tracks that were indistinguishable from work by real artists.

Read more on BBC

This is the reverse of many professionals who edit—or copy and paste—whatever an AI tool composes in response to a prompt.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

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