copy (ˈkɒpɪ
)
Definitions
noun
Word forms: plural, copies
- an imitation or reproduction of an original
- a single specimen of something that occurs in a multiple edition, such as a book, article, etc
- matter to be reproduced in print
- written matter or text as distinct from graphic material in books, newspapers, etc
- the words used to present a promotional message in an advertisement
- journalism informal suitable material for an article or story ⇒
disasters are always good copy
- archaic a model to be copied, esp an example of penmanship
verb
Word forms: copies, copying, copied
- when tr, often foll by out to make a copy or reproduction of (an original)
- (tr) to imitate as a model
- (intr) to imitate unfairly
Word Origin
C14: from Medieval Latin cōpia an imitation, something copied, from Latin: abundance, riches; see copiousSynonyms
View thesaurus entryTranslations
- British English:
copy
If you make a copy of something, you produce something that looks like the original thing.I found a copy of his letter.ˈkɒpɪ NOUN I found a copy of his letter.
- Spanish:
copia
nf
- French:
copie
nf
- German:
Exemplar
nnt
- Chinese: 复制 n
- Arabic: نُسْخَة n
- Portuguese: cópia nf
- Russian: копия nf
- Croatian: umnožavanje nnt
- Czech: kopie nf
- Danish: kopi nutr
- Dutch: reproductie nf
- Finnish: kopio n
- Greek: αντίγραφο nnt
- Italian: copia nf
- Japanese: 複製 n
- Korean: 사본 n
- Norwegian: kopi nm
- Polish: kopia nf
- Brazilian Portuguese: cópia nf
- European Spanish:
copia
nf
- Swedish: kopia nutr
- Thai: ทำสำเนา n
- Turkish: taklit n
- Vietnamese: bản sao n
- British English:
copy
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.ˈkɒpɪ NOUN He sent me a copy of the report.
- Spanish:
ejemplar
nm
- French:
copie
nf
- German:
Kopie
nf Kopien
- Chinese: 副本 n
- Arabic: نُسْخَة n
- Portuguese: texto nm
- Russian: экземпляр nm
- Croatian: tekst nm
- Czech: výtisk nm
- Danish: eksemplar nnt
- Dutch: kopie nf
- Finnish: kappale n
- Greek: αντίτυπο nnt
- Italian: copia nf
- Japanese: 原稿 n
- Korean: 원고 n
- Norwegian: avskrift nm
- Polish: maszynopis nm
- Brazilian Portuguese: cópia nf
- European Spanish:
ejemplar
nm
- Swedish: manuskript nnt
- Thai: ฉบับสำเนา n
- Turkish: kopya n
- Vietnamese: văn bản n
- British English:
copy
If you copy something, you produce something that looks like the original thing.Copy files from your old computer to your new one.ˈkɒpɪ VERB Copy files from your old computer to your new one.
- Spanish:
copiar
v
- French:
copier
vt
- German:
kopieren
v
- Chinese: 复制 v
- Arabic: يَنْسَخُ v
- Portuguese: copiar v
- Russian: копировать v
- Croatian: umnožavati v
- Czech: zkopírovat v kopírovat
- Danish: kopiere v
- Dutch: kopiëren v
- Finnish: kopioida v
- Greek: αντιγράφω v
- Italian: copiare v
- Japanese: 複製する v
- Korean: 복사하다 v
- Norwegian: kopiere v
- Polish: skopiować v kopiować
- Brazilian Portuguese: copiar v
- European Spanish:
copiar
v
- Swedish: kopiera v
- Thai: ถ่ายสำเนา v
- Turkish: kopyalamak v
- Vietnamese: sao chép v
Usage examples
The following morning there were two cards in the letter box at home, original and copy.
, THE COMPANY OF STRANGERS (2002)Like many other French artists of his time, he felt that the work of the artist was to improve on nature, not just to copy her.
Country Life (2005)To apply, you need to fill out a CB1 form, enclosing a copy of the baby's birth certificate.
Irish Times (2002)Banks or building societies may send you a copy of a mortgage valuation.
Glasgow Herald (2001)The library held the original copy of Amelia's journal, the spider traces of Amelia's voice.
, THE PAINTER (2003)