copy

Pronunciation: /ˈkɒpi/

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Definition of copy

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')

copy in other Oxford dictionaries

Definition of copy in the US English dictionary

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Other

copy

noun (plural copies)

verb (copies, copying, copied)

Origin:

copy in other Oxford dictionaries

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