/ ˈkɒpi; NAmE ˈkɑːpi/ noun , verb
■ noun ( pl. -ies )
1.
[ C ] copy (of sth) a thing that is made to be the same as sth else, especially a document or a work of art :
I will send you a copy of the report.
The thieves replaced the original painting with a copy.
You should make a copy of the disk as a backup.
—see also hard copy
2.
[ C ] a single example of a book, newspaper, etc. of which many have been made :
a copy of 'The Times'
The book sold 20 000 copies within two weeks.
—see also back copy
3.
[ U ] written material that is to be printed in a newspaper, magazine, etc.; news or information that can be used in a newspaper article or advertisement :
The subeditors prepare the reporters' copy for the paper and write the headlines.
This will make great copy for the advertisement.
4.
= photocopy :
Could I have ten copies of this page, please?
5.
[ C ] ( IndE ) a book used by students for writing exercises, etc. in
■ verb ( cop·ies , copy·ing , cop·ied , cop·ied )
1.
[ vn ] to make sth that is exactly like sth else :
They copied the designs from those on Greek vases.
Everything in the computer's memory can be copied onto disks.
2.
[ vn ] copy sth (from sth) (into / onto sth) | copy sth (down / out) to write sth exactly as it is written somewhere else :
She copied the phone number into her address book.
I copied out several poems.
3.
[ vn ] to behave or do sth in the same way as sb else
SYN imitate :
She copies everything her sister does.
Their tactics have been copied by other terrorist organizations.
4.
[ v ] copy (from / off sb) to cheat in an exam, school work, etc. by writing what sb else has written and pretending it is your own work
5.
[ vn ] ( especially NAmE ) = photocopy
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PHRASAL VERBS
- copy sb in (on sth)
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WORD 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).