Definition

Noun: A thin sheet of paper coated on one side with a dark, waxy ink or pigment (historically containing carbon). It is placed between two sheets of paper so that writing or typing on the top sheet transfers a copy onto the bottom sheet.

Usage

Carbon paper is used to make duplicate copies of handwritten or typewritten documents simultaneously with the original. - Before photocopiers, secretaries used carbon paper to make copies of letters. - Insert a sheet of carbon paper between the form and the receipt to create a duplicate.

Advanced Usage

• "to be a carbon copy of": An idiom derived from this technology, meaning to be an exact duplicate or replica of something or someone.
  • The new building is a carbon copy of the old one.

Variants and Related Words

• Carbon copy (n): The duplicate document made using carbon paper; often abbreviated as "cc" in email headers, indicating a copy sent to another recipient.
  • Please send the memo to the manager with a carbon copy to the department head.

Synonyms

• Duplicating paper: A more general term.
• Manifold paper: An older term, especially for use with early typewriters.

Related Idioms

• Carbon-copy: Used as an adjective to describe something identical.
  • He has a carbon-copy personality of his father.

Noun

1. a thin paper coated on one side with a dark waxy substance (often containing carbon); used to transfer characters from the original to an under sheet of paper