copy

noun
\ ˈkä-pē How to pronounce copy (audio) \
plural copies

Definition of copy

 (Entry 1 of 2)

1 : an imitation, transcript, or reproduction of an original work (such as a letter, a painting, a table, or a dress)
2 : one of a series of especially mechanical reproductions of an original impression also : an individual example of such a reproduction
3 archaic : something to be imitated : model
4a : matter to be set especially for printing
b : something considered printable or newsworthy used without an article remarks that make good copy— Norman Cousins
c : text especially of an advertisement
5 : duplicate sense 1a a copy of a computer file a copy of a gene

copy

verb
copied; copying; copies

Definition of copy (Entry 2 of 2)

transitive verb

1 : to make a copy or duplicate of copy a document copy a computer file
2 : to model oneself on
3 in radio/military communications : to acknowledge receipt of (a message) The operator of the Titanic was busy figuring his accounts and did not bother to copy the message. A little later in the afternoon, another ship named the Baltic called the Titanic to tell her about icebergs that were in her way.— Rev. Robert P. Lawrence

intransitive verb

1 : to make a copy
2 : to undergo copying the map did not copy well
3 in radio/military communications : to acknowledge receipt and understanding of a message "Block the road with your car. Take no other action. … No resistance, do you copy? Over."— Stephen King

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Choose the Right Synonym for copy

Noun

reproduction, duplicate, copy, facsimile, replica mean a thing made to closely resemble another. reproduction implies an exact or close imitation of an existing thing. reproductions from the museum's furniture collection duplicate implies a double or counterpart exactly corresponding to another thing. a duplicate of a house key copy applies especially to one of a number of things reproduced mechanically. printed 1000 copies of the lithograph facsimile suggests a close reproduction often of graphic matter that may differ in scale. a facsimile of a rare book replica implies the exact reproduction of a particular item in all details a replica of the Mayflower but not always in the same scale. miniature replicas of classic cars

Verb

copy, imitate, mimic, ape, mock mean to make something so that it resembles an existing thing. copy suggests duplicating an original as nearly as possible. copied the painting and sold the fake as an original imitate suggests following a model or a pattern but may allow for some variation. imitate a poet's style mimic implies a close copying (as of voice or mannerism) often for fun, ridicule, or lifelike imitation. pupils mimicking their teacher ape may suggest presumptuous, slavish, or inept imitating of a superior original. American fashion designers aped their European colleagues mock usually implies imitation with derision. mocking a vain man's pompous manner

Verb

copy, imitate, and mimic mean to make something so that it resembles something else. copy means trying to duplicate a thing as much as possible. Copy this drawing exactly. imitate means that a person uses something as an example but does not try to make an exact copy. They imitated the actions of their parents. mimic means carefully copying something (as a person's voice) often for the purpose of making fun of it. The comedian mimicked a popular singer.

Examples of copy in a Sentence

Noun

The novel has sold more than a million copies. She got a job writing advertising copy. All copy must be submitted by 5 p.m.

Verb

She copied the design on a piece of paper. Copy the file to your hard drive. The bills are designed to prevent copying by counterfeiters. We caught him copying the answers out of the book. We caught him copying out of the book. The speech was copied word for word. His music was copied widely. Their competitors soon copied the idea.
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Recent Examples on the Web: Noun

The first edition was published in Brooklyn, and only 795 copies were issued. Daniel Ross Goodman, National Review, "Walt Whitman, an American," 31 Aug. 2019 The proposals are outlined in eight potential action items listed within an undated two-page internal memo, a copy of which The Oregonian obtained via public records request. oregonlive.com, "Portland mayor’s office considers new regulations on fossil fuels," 28 Aug. 2019 As part of The Times’ foreign staff, Whitefield oversaw copy editing and page design of some of the major stories of the day: most notably the fall of the Berlin Wall and the collapse of the Soviet Union. La Cañada Valley Sun, "Services set for La Cañadan Paul Whitefield, veteran newspaper editor," 27 Aug. 2019 Over five million copies of his books have been sold by now, translated into 18 languages. Manavi Kapur, Quartz India, "Amish Tripathi wants to write a hundred books, one cream biscuit at a time," 26 Aug. 2019 The biotech company received $35 million to provide two copies of its mouse cell line library to the new institute, with one housed in a lab in College Station and the other at the university's Health Science Center in Houston. Dallas News, "Here's where Uber's $24 million ranks among state's biggest incentive packages," 26 Aug. 2019 There is office gossip and a dozen small annoyances: the copy machine is balking again. Carl Nolte, SFChronicle.com, "Far away and under the redwoods, but haunted by the sights in San Francisco," 24 Aug. 2019 Cablevision disagreed, arguing that the copies were being made by customers, not by Cablevision. Timothy B. Lee, Ars Technica, "Book publishers sue Audible to stop new speech-to-text feature," 24 Aug. 2019 Additionally at the conference, the Santa Maria Creek Greenway group distributed copies of a two-sided brochure created by San Diego County staff. Julie Gallant, Ramona Sentinel, "Greenway advocates plan outreach activities," 22 Aug. 2019

Recent Examples on the Web: Verb

But then Stephens emailed Karpf and copied George Washington University’s provost. Hannah Knowles, Washington Post, "Bret Stephens is still talking about bedbugs — and now, the language of the Holocaust," 31 Aug. 2019 Each Torah is carefully created, copying the 304,805 letters exactly from the original scroll. Jamie Swinnerton, Houston Chronicle, "Chabad of The Woodlands celebrates milestone with new Torah," 29 Aug. 2019 Stephens, in an email, scolded Karpf for his comment and copied the provost at the professor's university. Rebecca Morin, USA TODAY, "'Tough guy!': Trump mocks NYT columnist Bret Stephens for bedbug reaction," 28 Aug. 2019 Along with the grim-looking photo, each features some copy serving as an explanation of that character and their place in the story.