View synonyms for copy

copy

[ kop-ee ]

Phonetic (Standard)IPA

noun

, plural cop·ies,

an imitation, reproduction, or transcript of an original:
a copy of a famous painting.
Synonyms: facsimile, carbon, duplicate
one of the various examples or specimens of the same book, engraving, or the like.
written matter intended to be reproduced in printed form:
The editor sent the copy for the next issue to the printer.
the text of a news story, advertisement, television commercial, etc., as distinguished from related visual material.
the newsworthiness of a person, thing, or event (often preceded by good or bad ): Compare news ( def 4 ).
The president is always good copy.
Computers. an exact duplicate of a file, program, etc.:
Keep a backup copy of the document.
Genetics. replication ( def 7 ).
Printing. pictures and artwork prepared for reproduction.
British Informal. (in schools) a composition; a written assignment.
British. a size of drawing or writing paper, 16 × 20 inches (40 × 50 centimeters).
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.

to make a copy of; transcribe; reproduce:
to copy a set of figures from a book.
to receive and understand (a radio message or its sender).
to follow as a pattern or model; imitate.
Antonyms: originate
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.

to make a copy or copies.
to undergo copying:
It copied poorly.
I can't install the program—one file won't copy.
to hear or receive a radio message, as over a CB radio:
Do you copy?
Also Newfoundland. to leap from one ice pan to another across open water.

copy

/ ˈkɒpɪ /

noun

an imitation or reproduction of an original
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
the words used to present a promotional message in an advertisement
informal.
journalism suitable material for an article or story
disasters are always good copy
archaic.
a model to be copied, esp an example of penmanship

verb

whentr, often foll by out to make a copy or reproduction of (an original)
tr to imitate as a model
intr to imitate unfairly

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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

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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 cōpia “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 cōpia an imitation, something copied, from Latin: abundance, riches; see copious

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Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

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

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Synonym Study

See imitate.

Related Words

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

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