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copy - 6 dictionary results

cop⋅y

[kop-ee] noun, plural cop⋅ies, for 1, 2, 7, 9, verb, cop⋅ied, cop⋅y⋅ing.
–noun
1. an imitation, reproduction, or transcript of an original: a copy of a famous painting.
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 prec. by good or bad): The president is always good copy. Compare news (def. 4).
6. Genetics. replication (def. 7).
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 in. (40 × 50 cm).
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)
11. to make a copy of; transcribe; reproduce: to copy a set of figures from a book.
12. to receive and understand (a radio message or its sender).
13. to follow as a pattern or model; imitate.
–verb (used without object)
14. to make a copy or copies.
15. to undergo copying: It copied poorly.
16. to hear or receive a radio message, as over a CB radio: Do you copy?
17. Also, cocky. Newfoundland. to leap from one ice pan to another across open water.
18. copy the mail, Citizens Band Radio Slang. mail 1 (def. 5).

Origin:
1300–50; ME copie (< AF) < ML cōpia abundance, something copied, L: wealth, abundance; see copious; (def. 16) orig. a children's game, from the phrase copy the leader


1. duplicate, carbon, facsimile. 13. See imitate.


13. originate.
cop·y   (kŏp'ē)   
n.   pl. cop·ies
  1. An imitation or reproduction of an original; a duplicate: a copy of a painting; made two copies of the letter.
  2. One specimen or example of a printed text or picture: an autographed copy of a novel.
  3. Material, such as a manuscript, that is to be set in type.
  4. The words to be printed or spoken in an advertisement.
  5. Suitable source material for journalism: Celebrities make good copy.
v.   cop·ied, cop·y·ing, cop·ies

v.   tr.
  1. To make a reproduction or copy of.
  2. To follow as a model or pattern; imitate. See Synonyms at imitate.
v.   intr.
  1. To make a copy or copies.
  2. To admit of being copied: colored ink that does not copy well.

[Middle English copie, from Old French, from Medieval Latin cōpia, transcript, from Latin, profusion; see op- in Indo-European roots.]
cop'y·a·ble, cop'i·a·ble adj.

Copy

Cop"y\ (k[o^]p"[y^]), n.; pl. Copies (-[i^]z). [F. copie, fr. L. copia abundance, number, LL. also, a transcript; co- + the root of opes riches. See Opulent, and cf. Copious.]

1. An abundance or plenty of anything. [Obs.]

She was blessed with no more copy of wit, but to serve his humor thus. --B. Jonson.

2. An imitation, transcript, or reproduction of an original work; as, a copy of a letter, an engraving, a painting, or a statue.

I have not the vanity to think my copy equal to the original. --Denham.

3. An individual book, or a single set of books containing the works of an author; as, a copy of the Bible; a copy of the works of Addison.

4. That which is to be imitated, transcribed, or reproduced; a pattern, model, or example; as, his virtues are an excellent copy for imitation.

Let him first learn to write, after a copy, all the letters. --Holder.

5. (print.) Manuscript or printed matter to be set up in type; as, the printers are calling for more copy.

6. A writing paper of a particular size. Same as Bastard. See under Paper.

7. Copyhold; tenure; lease. [Obs.] --Shak.

Copy book, a book in which copies are written or printed for learners to imitate.

Examined copies (Law), those which have been compared with the originals.

Exemplified copies, those which are attested under seal of a court.

Certified or Office copies, those which are made or attested by officers having charge of the originals, and authorized to give copies officially. --Abbot.

Syn: Imitation; transcript; duplicate; counterfeit.

Copy

Cop"y\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Copied; p. pr. & vb. n. Copying.] [Cf. F. copir, fr. LL. copiare. See Copy, n.]

1. To make a copy or copies of; to write; print, engrave, or paint after an original; to duplicate; to reproduce; to transcribe; as, to copy a manuscript, inscription, design, painting, etc.; -- often with out, sometimes with off.

I like the work well; ere it be demanded (As like enough it will), I'd have it copied. --Shak.

Let this be copied out, And keep it safe for our remembrance. --Shak.

2. To imitate; to attempt to resemble, as in manners or course of life.

We copy instinctively the voices of our companions, their accents, and their modes of pronunciation. --Stewart.

Copy

Cop"y\, v. i. 1. To make a copy or copies; to imitate.

2. To yield a duplicate or transcript; as, the letter did not copy well.

Some . . . never fail, when they copy, to follow the bad as well as the good things. --Dryden.
Language Translation for : copy
Spanish: copia,
German: die Kopie,
Japanese: コピー

copy 
c.1330, from O.Fr. copie, from M.L. copia "reproduction, transcript," from L. copia "plenty, means" (see copious). Originally "written transcript," sense extended 15c. to any specimen of writing (especially MS for a printer) and any reproduction or imitation. The verb, in the figurative sense of "to imitate" is attested from 1647. Copyright is 1735. Copycat is attested from 1896, but may be 40 or 50 years older.
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