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copy definition

copy (käp′ē)

noun pl. copies cop′·ies

  1. a thing made just like another; imitation of an original; full reproduction or transcription
  2. Now Rare a model or pattern, as of penmanship, to be imitated or reproduced
  3. any of a number of books, magazines, engravings, etc. printed from the same plates or having the same printed matter
  4. matter to be set in type or put on a printing plate
  5. subject matter for a journalist, novelist, etc. a trip that made good copy
  6. the words of an advertisement, as distinct from the layout, pictures, music, etc.

Etymology: ME copie, abundance, full transcript < OFr < ML copia, copious transcript < L copia, plenty: see copious

transitive verb, intransitive verb copied cop′·ied, copying cop′y·ing

  1. to make a copy or copies of (a piece of writing, etc.); reproduce; transcribe
  2. to make or do something in imitation of (some thing or person); imitate
  3. Informal to provide (someone) with a copy of a specified document, text, etc. copy all staff members with the annual report

Webster's New World College Dictionary Copyright © 2005 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

Alternate definitions:

law copy definition - legal

copy Synonyms

copy

n.

facsimile, duplicate, reproduction, replica, photocopy, photostat, likeness, print, simulation, impersonation, reprint, offprint, Xerox (trademark), fax, hard copy, microfiche, imitation, forgery, counterfeit, fake, rubbing, transcript, carbon, carbon copy, mimeograph sheet, mimeograph copy, typescript, transcription, cast, tracing, effigy, counterpart, mirror image, semblance, likeness, portrait, model, image, reflection, representation, replication, study, photograph, microcopy, microfilm, examined copy, certified copy, fair copy, example, specimen, impression, text, proof, ditto, knockoff*; see also duplicate, imitation 2, reproduction 3.

copy, the broadest of these terms, refers to a thing that is made to be like another, whether the resulting correspondence is exact or approximate a carbon copy; reproduction implies a close imitation of an original, often, however, with differences, as of material, size, or quality a reproduction of a painting; a facsimile is an exact reproduction in appearance, sometimes, however, differing in scale a facsimile of the original Declaration of Independence; a duplicate is a double, or counterpart, of something, serving all the purposes of the original a duplicate of the contract; a replica is an exact reproduction of a work of art or other object, sometimes on a smaller scale a replica of the Parthenon, in strict usage referring to a reproduction of a work of art made by the original artist


copy

v.

  1. To imitate

    follow the example of, mimic, ape; see follow 2, imitate 2, parody.

  2. To reproduce

    represent, duplicate, paraphrase, counterfeit, forge, photocopy, ditto, transcribe, delineate, depict, portray, picture, repeat, reduplicate, replicate, clone, plagiarize, borrow, lift*, crib*, knock off*; see also draw 2, reproduce 1, 2. See syn. study at imitate.


Webster's New World Roget's A-Z Thesaurus Copyright © 1999 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

copy Usage Examples

Preposition: of

  • document: You may find it useful to print a copy of each document to retain for your own records.

Converse of object

  • send: Send a printed copy too, double line spaced is nice.

Adjective modifier

  • hard: For a hard copy or help in reading the Scheme, please contact the Policy Unit.

Noun used with modifier

  • carbon: The Goose up the road in Kings Heath is almost a carbon copy, in both style and clientele.
copy usage examples (more)

The word usage examples above have been gathered from various sources to reflect current and historical usage. They do not represent the opinions of YourDictionary.com.

copy quotes

Artistes, poe'  tes, e¤  crivains, si vous copiez toujours, on ne vous copiera jamais. Artists, poets, writers, if you copy others all the time, no one will copy you.

-Bernardin de Saint-Pierre,Jacques-Henri

It is all very well to copy what you see; it is much better to draw what you see only in memory.

-Degas, (Hilaire Germain) Edgar

copy quotes (more)

Webster's New World Dictionary of Quotations Copyright © 2005 by Chambers Harrap Publishers Ltd. All rights reserved. Published by Wiley, Hoboken, NJ. Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

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MLA Style

"copy." Webster's New World College Dictionary. 2009

  • Your Dictionary. 5 July 2009
  • <www.yourdictionary.com/copy>

APA Style

copy. (2009). In Webster's New World College Dictionary

  • Retrieved July 5th, 2009, from www.yourdictionary.com/copy

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