copy

 
Pronunciation: /ˈkɒpi/

noun (plural copies)

  • 1a thing made to be similar or identical to another: the problem is telling which is the original document and which the copy
  • 2a single specimen of a particular book, record, or other publication or issue: the record has sold more than a million copies
  • 3 [mass noun] matter to be printed: copy for the next issue must be submitted by the beginning of the month
  • material for a newspaper or magazine article: it is an unfortunate truth of today’s media that bad news makes good copy
  • the text of an advertisement: ‘No more stubble—no more trouble,’ trumpeted their ad copy

verb (copies, copying, copied)

[with object]
  • 1make a similar or identical version of; reproduce: each form had to be copied and sent to a different department
  • Computing reproduce (data stored in one location) in another location: the command will copy a file from one disc to another
  • write out information that one has read or heard: he copied the details into his notebook I began to copy out the addresses
  • (copy something to) send a copy of a letter or an email to (a third party): I thought I’d copy to you this letter sent to the PR representative
  • (copy someone in) send someone a copy of an email that is addressed to a third party: I attached the document and copied him in so he’d know it had been sent
  • 2imitate the style or behaviour of: lifestyles that were copied from Miami and Fifth Avenue [no object]: art students copied from approved old masters
  • 3 [no object] hear or understand someone speaking on a radio transmitter: this is Edwards, do you copy, over

Origin:

Middle English (denoting a transcript or copy of a document): from Old French copie (noun), copier (verb), from Latin copia 'abundance' (in medieval Latin 'transcript', from such phrases as copiam describendi facere 'give permission to transcribe')