Word forms: plural, 3rd person singular presenttense copies, present participle copying, past tense, past participle copied
1. countable noun
If you make a copyof something, you produce something that looks like the original thing.
The reporter apparently obtained a copy of Steve's resignation letter. [+ of]
Always keep a copy of everything in your own files.
Synonyms: reproduction, duplicate, photocopy, carbon copy [old-fashioned] More Synonyms of copy
2. verb
If you copy something, you produce something that looks like the original thing.
She never participated in obtaining or copying any classified documents for anyone. [VERB noun]
...lawsuits against companies who have unlawfully copied computer programs. [VERB noun]
...top designers, whose work has been widely copied. [beVERB-ed]
He copied the chart from a book. [VERB noun + from]
Synonyms: reproduce, replicate, duplicate, photocopy More Synonyms of copy
3. verb
If you copy a piece of writing, you write it again exactly.
He would allow John to copy his answers to difficult algebra questions. [VERB noun]
He copied the data into a notebook. [VERB noun + into]
We're copying from textbooks because we don't have enough to go round. [VERB + from]
Copy out means the same as copy.
He wrote the title on the blackboard, then copied out the text sentence by sentence. [VERBPARTICLE noun]
'Did he leave a phone number?'—'Oh, yes.' She copied it out for him. [VERB noun PARTICLE]
4. verb
If you copy a person or what they do, you try to do what they do or try to be like them, usually because you admire them or what they have done.
Children can be seen to copy the behaviour of others whom they admire or identifywith. [VERB noun]
He can claim to have been defeated by opponents copying his own tactics. [VERB noun]
...the techniques she had copied from her tennis heroes. [VERB noun + from]
copyinguncountable noun
Children learn by copying.
5. countable noun
A copyof a book, newspaper, or CD is one of many that are exactly the same.
I bought a copy of 'U.S.A. Today' from a street-corner machine. [+ of]
You can obtain a copy for $2 from New York Central Art Supply.
6. uncountable noun
In journalism, copy is written material that is ready to be printed or read in a broadcast.
[technical]
...his ability to write the most lyrical copy in the history of sports television.
...advertising copy.
7. uncountable noun
In journalism, copy is news or information that can be used in an article in a newspaper.
[technical]
...journalists looking for good copy.
8. See also back copy, carbon copy, hard copy
Phrasal verbs:
See copy down
See copy out
More Synonyms of copy
copy in British English
(ˈkɒpɪ)
nounWord forms: pluralcopies
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.
a.
matter to be reproduced in print
b.
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. journalism informal
suitable material for an article or story
disasters are always good copy
6. archaic
a model to be copied, esp an example of penmanship
verbWord forms: copies, copying or copied
7. (whentr, often foll by out)
to make a copy or reproduction of (an original)
8. (transitive)
to imitate as a model
9. (intransitive)
to imitate unfairly
Word origin
C14: from Medieval Latin cōpia an imitation, something copied, from Latin: abundance, riches; see copious
copy in American English
(ˈkɑpi)
nounWord forms: pluralˈcopies
1.
a thing made just like another; imitation of an original; full reproduction or transcription
2. 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.
verb transitive, verb intransitiveWord forms: ˈcopied or ˈcopying
7.
to make a copy or copies of (a piece of writing, etc.); reproduce; transcribe
8.
to make or do something in imitation of (some thing or person); imitate
9. Informal
to provide (someone) with a copy of a specified document, text, etc.
copy all staff members with the annual report
SIMILAR WORDS: ˈimiˌtate
SYNONYMY NOTE: copy, the broadest of these terms, refers to any imitation, often only approximate, ofan original [a carbon copy]; reproduction implies a close imitation of the original, often, however, with differences, as ofmaterial, size, or quality [a reproduction of a painting]; a facsimile is an exact reproduction in appearance, sometimes, however, differing in scale [a photostated facsimile of a document]; a duplicate is a double, or counterpart, of something, serving all the purposes of the original[all the books of a single printing are duplicates]; a replica is an exact reproduction of a work of art, in strict usage, one made by the originalartist
Word origin
ME copie, abundance, full transcript < OFr < ML copia, copious transcript < L copia, plenty: see copious
More idioms containing
copy
a carbon copy
COBUILD Collocations
copy
hardback copy
well-thumbed copy
Examples of 'copy' in a sentence
copy
But which aspect of his behaviour to copy?
Times, Sunday Times (2017)
Email me at the address on the left to get a copy.
The Sun (2016)
Others may try to copy what you do but you have that extra spark.
The Sun (2016)
Please send only copies of original documents.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
Luckily, the company that made it has multiple copies.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
To get a copy, send an email to the address below.
The Sun (2016)
Fifteen days after his recall, the claimant was read a copy of a report which gave detailed reasons for his recall.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
We are not trying to copy anything.
The Sun (2012)
This means we will copy their behaviour to some extent.
The Sun (2013)
You will keep both copies side by side.
Times, Sunday Times (2006)
Want to win a copy of this book?
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
But did they have a printed copy for me?
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
Please send only copies of original documents.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
But should we try to copy her?
The Sun (2007)
It took us most of a week just to make the working copies of the disks that came with the little monster.
Christianity Today (2000)
The cell tries to copy it again and again, and gets stuck in a loop.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
She went out at once, got a copy and read it.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
Move your right arm around and hero Link copies it exactly with his right arm.
The Sun (2011)
Why couldn't anyone copy his guitar playing?
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
The information was apparently stolen and copied by a disgruntled Liechtenstein bank employee.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
One cannot often tell whether it is a soap or a detergent except by reading the promotional copy or listening to the salesperson.
Brumberg, Elaine Take Care of Your Skin (1990)
In return, he agreed to burn the whole edition of 6,000 copies.
The Times Literary Supplement (2010)
No female star has had her look so admired - and copied - as the original blonde bombshell.
The Sun (2014)
They go up high in the sky together, and as they fly around they exactly copy each other's movements.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
It would make good copy to say they split because of mutual loathing, but they have been firm friends since they met after Cambridge.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
In other languages
copy
British English: copy /ˈkɒpɪ/ NOUN
duplicate If you make a copy of something, you produce something that looks like the original thing.
I found a copy of his letter.
American English: copy reproduction
Arabic: نُسْخَة
Brazilian Portuguese: cópia
Chinese: 复制
Croatian: kopija
Czech: kopie
Danish: kopi
Dutch: reproductie
European Spanish: copia
Finnish: kopio
French: copie
German: Exemplar
Greek: αντίγραφο
Italian: copia
Japanese: 複製 reproduction
Korean: 사본
Norwegian: kopi
Polish: kopia
European Portuguese: cópia
Romanian: copie
Russian: копия
Latin American Spanish: copia
Swedish: kopia
Thai: ทำสำเนา
Turkish: taklit
Ukrainian: копія
Vietnamese: bản sao
British English: copy /ˈkɒpɪ/ NOUN
publication A copy of a book, newspaper, or record is one of many identical ones that have been printed or produced.
He sent me a copy of the report.
American English: copy written text
Arabic: نُسْخَة
Brazilian Portuguese: cópia
Chinese: 副本
Croatian: primjerak
Czech: výtisk
Danish: eksemplar
Dutch: kopie
European Spanish: ejemplar
Finnish: kappale
French: copie
German: Kopie
Greek: αντίτυπο
Italian: copia
Japanese: 原稿 written text
Korean: 원고
Norwegian: avskrift
Polish: maszynopis
European Portuguese: cópia
Romanian: exemplar
Russian: экземпляр
Latin American Spanish: ejemplar
Swedish: manuskript
Thai: ฉบับสำเนา
Turkish: kopya nüsha
Ukrainian: примірник
Vietnamese: văn bản
British English: copy /ˈkɒpɪ/ VERB
If you copy something, you produce something that looks like the original thing.
Copy files from your old computer to your new one.
American English: copy
Arabic: يَنْسَخُ
Brazilian Portuguese: copiar
Chinese: 复制
Croatian: umnožavati
Czech: kopírovat
Danish: kopiere
Dutch: kopiëren
European Spanish: copiar
Finnish: kopioida
French: copier
German: kopieren
Greek: αντιγράφω
Italian: copiare
Japanese: 複製する
Korean: 복사하다
Norwegian: kopiere
Polish: skopiować
European Portuguese: copiar
Romanian: a copia
Russian: копировать
Latin American Spanish: copiar
Swedish: kopiera
Thai: ถ่ายสำเนา
Turkish: kopyalamak
Ukrainian: копіювати
Vietnamese: sao chép
All related terms of 'copy'
copy in
to send someone a copy of an email or letter being sent to another person
back copy
A back copy of a magazine or newspaper is the same as a → back issue .
body copy
the main part of an advertisement , as opposed to headlines , etc
copy boy
an employee who runs errands in a newspaper office
copy desk
a desk where copy is edited
copy down
If you copy down something that someone has said or written, you write it down exactly .
copy-edit
to prepare ( copy ) for printing by styling, correcting , etc
copy out
copy shop
a business that provides copies of documents or prints documents
copy-text
a manuscript or earlier published version of a text, used as the basis for an emended, scholarly edition
fair copy
a clean copy of a document on which all corrections have been made
hard copy
A hard copy of a document is a printed version of it, rather than a version that is stored on a computer.
show copy
a positive print of a film for use at an important presentation such as a premiere
soft copy
information that can be viewed on a computer screen rather than that which is printed on paper
top copy
(in a duplicated document) the sheet on which something is actually typed or written
carbon copy
If you say that one person or thing is a carbon copy of another, you mean that they look or behave exactly like them.
copy editor
a person whose work is editing and correcting the grammar , punctuation , etc. of articles or manuscripts , as in a newspaper office or publishing house
copy holder
one who reads aloud from the copy as the proof corrector follows the reading in the proof
copy press
a simple machine for printing many copies of a document
copy taster
a person who selects or approves text for publication , esp in a periodical
copy typist
a typist whose job is to type from written or typed drafts rather than dictation
master copy
an original copy , stencil , tape , etc, from which duplicates are made
pirate copy
an illicitly reproduced copy of a DVD, video , book, game, etc
proof copy
a copy of (a book, story, etc) made from trial impressions made from composed type, or print-outs (from a laser printer , etc) for the correction of errors
review copy
a copy of a book sent by a publisher to a journal , newspaper , etc, to enable it to be reviewed
rough copy
a preliminary version of an essay , letter, book, or speech
advance copy
a copy of a book, speech etc released to the media , reviewers, etc before it is published , delivered , etc and before it is necessarily in its final state
Chinese copy
an exact copy of an original
copy machine
a machine that copies documents or pictures
hardback copy
A copy of a book, newspaper , or CD is one of many that are exactly the same.
knocking copy
advertising or publicity material designed to denigrate a competing product
release copy
an article, notice , announcement , or the like, issued in advance for publication or broadcast , bearing a release date
specimen copy
a copy of a document regarded as typical of that type of document
copy protection
a routine that is included in a program by its publisher to prevent the software from being duplicated except for a single backup copy
a carbon copy
a person or thing that is very similar to someone or something else
copy and paste
to copy (information in a computer document ) and put it somewhere else in the document
presentation copy
a copy of a book given by the publisher or author
copycat
A copycat crime is committed by someone who is copying someone else.
camera-ready copy
type matter ready to be photographed for plate-making without further alteration
well-thumbed copy
A copy of a book, newspaper, or CD is one of many that are exactly the same.
blind carbon (copy)
a carbon copy of a letter sent to someone other than the addressee , with no indication on the original letter that such a copy has been sent
copyholder
one who reads aloud from the copy as the proof corrector follows the reading in the proof
copying machine
a machine that makes copies of original documents, esp. by xerography