I. du ‧ pli ‧ cate 1 /ˈdjuːpləkeɪt, ˈdjuːplɪkeɪt $ ˈduː-/ BrE AmE verb [transitive]
1 . to copy something exactly:
New copies of the form can be duplicated from a master copy.
The video was duplicated illegally.
2 . to repeat something in exactly the same way:
We don’t want staff to duplicate each other’s work.
—duplication /ˌdjuːpləˈkeɪʃ ə n, ˌdjuːplɪˈkeɪʃ ə n $ ˌduː-/ noun [uncountable]
II. du ‧ pli ‧ cate 2 /ˈdjuːpləkət, ˈdjuːplɪkət $ ˈduː-/ BrE AmE adjective [only before noun]
exactly the same as something, or made as an exact copy of something:
A duplicate copy should be made for the county record office.
a duplicate key
III. duplicate 3 BrE AmE noun [countable]
[ Date: 1400-1500 ; Language: Latin ; Origin: duplicatus , past participle of duplicare 'to double' , from duplex ; ⇨ ↑ duplex ]
1 . an exact copy of something that you can use in the same way
duplicate of
Locksmiths can make duplicates of most keys.
She kept both the duplicate and the original.
2 . in duplicate if something is in duplicate, there are two copies of it:
Copies of the proposal should be sent in duplicate.