copy

SayKO-pee/ˈkɑpi/UK/ˈkɒpi/

Pluralcopies

Verbcopies, copying, copied

15 meanings of copy

Practice

1
not the originalnouncountable
Something made to look exactly or nearly like the original.
Like two photos printed from the same picture.
She made a copy of the drawing for her friend.
The copies looked exactly like the original painting.
UsageSay make a copy of something.
Similarduplicate, replica, reproduction, facsimile, imitation
Oppositeoriginal
Note
2
one booknouncountable
One of the many printed or digital examples of a book, magazine or newspaper.
Like one bottle taken from a whole shelf of the same drink.
I borrowed a copy of the book from the library.
The store sold every copy of the new novel by noon.
UsageSay a copy of the book or two copies of the newspaper.
3
make identicalverbtransitive
To make an object that is exactly like another one.
Like making a second toy that looks just like the first.
The factory can copy the design exactly.
They copied the old key so everyone had one.
Similarduplicate, replicate, reproduce, clone
4
imitateverbtransitive
To do something in the same way as another person or thing.
Like a younger child doing everything an older one does.
Children often copy their parents' habits.
He copied his older brother's way of talking.
UsageKids say stop copying me.
Similarimitate, emulate, mimic, ape, follow
Note
5
save to memoryverbtransitive
To save an object in memory so you can use it again later.
Like keeping a spare picture so you still have one if you lose the first.
Copy the address, then paste it into your email.
She copied his phone number and pasted it into a text message.
UsageSay copy and paste.
Similarduplicate
Note
6
text for publishingnoununcountable
Written words that will be printed or published, such as in a newspaper or an advert.
Like the words you write before they are printed in a book.
The editor checked the copy before it went to print.
Writers must hand in their copy by Friday.
UsageSay write copy or edit copy.
Similartext, manuscript
Note

Less common meanings

7
hear (radio)verbtransitive or intransitive
To hear and understand a radio message clearly.
Like hearing someone clearly on a phone call and understanding every word they say.
Do you copy, base camp? Over.
We copy your last transmission and are moving in now.
UsageDo you copy? means did you understand? Answer Copy.
Similarreceive, understand, hear
Note
8
include (email)verbtransitive
To send someone a copy of a message or letter.
Like sending the same note to two friends at once.
Please copy me on that email.
She copied her boss on the message.
UsageSay copy someone on an email.
Similarcc, include
9
geneticsnouncountable
An extra version of a gene or chromosome that is made when it is duplicated.
Like making a second photo of the same picture, so now there are two.
Each cell carries two copies of most genes, one from each parent.
A single faulty copy of the gene can cause the disorder.
Note
10
exercise booknounIrelandcountable
A book of blank or lined pages that students use for their schoolwork.
Like a notebook you fill with your schoolwork at school.
She wrote out her spelling words neatly in her copy.
The teacher collected every copy to mark the homework.
Similarnotebook, workbook, jotter
11
nounobsolete
A model or example that is meant to be followed or copied.
Let him first learn to write, after a copy of all the letters.
1669, William Holder, Elements of Speech: An Essay of Inquiry into the Natural Production of LettersHere, copy means a model to imitate, so he copies each letter from it.
His virtues are an excellent copy for imitation.
Here, copy means an example to follow, so others should imitate his virtues.
Note
12
nounarchaic
A kind of writing paper that was made in one fixed size.
Note
13
nounobsolete
A large amount or plentiful supply of something.
[S]he was bleſt with no more Copie of wit, but to ſerue his Humor thus.
1599, Ben Jonson, The Comicall Satyre of Euery Man out of His Humor.Here, Copie means a large supply, so she had no more wit than this.
Note
14
nounobsolete
A right to hold land that was written in the lord's official records.
But in them nature's copy's not eterne
c. 1606, William Shakespeare, “The Tragedie of Macbeth”Here, copy means a lease to hold land, so nature's lease does not last forever.
Note
15
noun
A junior worker at a newspaper who fetches text and runs small errands.

Practice

Can you tell the meanings of copy apart? Answer 3 quick questions from this page, or write your own sentence and AI will check it.

Origins

Meanings 1–2, 6, 9–14

From Old French copie, from Latin cōpia meaning "plenty" and "abundance," built from co- ("together") and ops ("wealth").

Checked 31 Oct 2026 · 5 facts

English copy comes through Old French copie. en.wiktionary.org
Plenty and abundance are meanings of the single Latin word cōpia. en.wiktionary.org
The Latin ancestor ultimately derives from co- and ops. en.wiktionary.org
The prefix co- means together. en.wiktionary.org
Latin ops has the meaning wealth. en.wiktionary.org

Meanings 3–5, 7–8

It goes back to the Old French word copier, which became copien in Middle English.