Definition

1. Noun:

   • A thing made to be similar or identical to another thing: An object or document that is produced to look exactly like an original.
   • Matter to be printed; text for publication: The written material prepared for printing in a book, newspaper, or advertisement.
   • Material suitable for a journalistic account: Information or an event that is considered good material for a news story.

2. Verb:

   • To make a replica or reproduction of something: To produce something that is the same as an original object or document.
   • To reproduce someone's behavior or looks: To imitate or mimic the actions, speech, or appearance of another person.
   • To write down or transcribe something exactly: To write out text that is seen or heard.

Usage Examples

• Noun:

  • She kept a copy of the contract for her records.
  • The journalist was always looking for a good copy to write about.
  • The printer asked for the final copy by noon.

• Verb:

  • Please copy this file to the shared folder.
  • Young children often copy the behavior of their parents.
  • The student was asked to copy the notes from the board.

Advanced Usage

• "To make a copy of": To produce a duplicate.

  • I need to make a copy of my passport for the application.

• "Hard copy": A physical printout of a digital document.

  • Please submit both a digital file and a hard copy of your report.

• "Blind copy (Bcc)": A hidden copy of an email sent to a recipient without other recipients' knowledge.

  • I sent the memo to the team and put the manager on blind copy.

Variants and Related Words

• Copyright (n): The exclusive legal right to reproduce, publish, or sell a creative work.

  • The copyright for the book belongs to the author.

• Copycat (n): A person who imitates or copies another's behavior, work, or style.

  • The new product was dismissed as a copycat of the market leader.

• Copywriter (n): A person who writes text for advertisements or promotional material.

  • The copywriter created a catchy slogan for the campaign.

Synonyms

• Noun: Duplicate, replica, reproduction, transcript.
• Verb: Duplicate, replicate, imitate, mimic, transcribe.

Related Phrasal Verbs

• Copy down: To write something on paper exactly as it is said or shown.

  • The secretary copied down every word of the meeting minutes.

• Copy out: To write out a full version of something from a source.

  • As punishment, he had to copy out the poem fifty times.

Related Idioms

• A carbon copy: An exact duplicate; someone or something very similar to another.

  • The sequel was just a carbon copy of the first movie.

• To copy and paste: (From computing) To duplicate digital information from one place to another. Often used figuratively to describe unoriginal work or thought.

  • Don't just copy and paste from the website; write it in your own words.

Noun

1. material suitable for a journalistic account
   • catastrophes make good copy
2. matter to be printed; exclusive of graphical materials
3. a thing made to be similar or identical to another thing
   • she made a copy of the designer dress
   • the clone was a copy of its ancestor
4. a reproduction of a written record (e.g. of a legal or school record)

Verb

1. make a replica of
   • copy that drawing
   • re-create a picture by Rembrandt
2. reproduce or make an exact copy of
   • replicate the cell
   • copy the genetic information
3. reproduce someone's behavior or looks
   • The mime imitated the passers-by
   • Children often copy their parents or older siblings
4. copy down as is
   • The students were made to copy the alphabet over and over