Meaning of copy in English

copy

/ˈkɑː.pi/ uk

/ˈkɒp.i/

copy verb [I or T] (REPRODUCE)

to intentionally make or do something that is the same as an original piece of work:

copy something from someone/something They've copied the basic design from the Japanese model and added a few of their own refinements.

The original painting has been copied many times.

They practiced their handwriting by copying.

copy from disapproving He shamelessly copied from talk radio hosts who stir up controversy.

copy off disapproving He was always copying off of other students, but never got caught.

to behave, dress, speak, etc. in a way that is intended to be like someone else, for example, because you admire that person:

copy someone in something He tends to copy his brother in the way he dresses.

Small children often learn by copying.

to create another version of a document, some software, some text, etc. that is exactly the same as the first version:

The scanner can copy images or text.

copy something to something Highlight the text you want and copy it to the clipboard.

copy something into something To copy your messages and contacts into another program, use that program's own import facility.

copy something onto something Patricia's going to copy her novel onto a flash drive and send it to me.

copy and paste

If you copy and paste text, an image, etc. from a computer or phone document, you create another version of it that is exactly the same and put it in a different place or a different document:

A significant percentage of students admit to copying and pasting text from websites.

More examplesFewer examples

She cheated on the test by copying from the boy in front.
All authors need to be wary of inadvertently copying other people's ideas.
Make sure the file you're copying to is open before you click "Paste."
This is illegally copied software.
She tried to copy the actress's style.

SMART Vocabulary: related words and phrases

Copying and copies

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Computer concepts

copy verb [I or T] (UNDERSTAND)

used, especially when communicating by radio, to tell someone that you have heard or understood, or to ask if someone has heard or understood you:

copy that He pressed the call button on his walkie-talkie: "We've got them." "Copy that. Stay where you are."

"Rodriguez, do you copy?"— "Yes, sir."— "What's your position?"

More examplesFewer examples

The dispatcher came back, giving him a staticky message." Copy," he replied.
Bravo 2 zero, this is Alpha Omega, do you copy?
Mouse: Computer, Magic Mouse here, I need the cursor moving now! Before that window disappears! Computer: Copy that, Magic.
LUKE: I'm sorry. I-I really don't enjoy talking this early in the morning. ZACH: Oh, hey, copy that. I'm right there with you.

SMART Vocabulary: related words and phrases

Understanding and comprehending

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You can also find related words, phrases, and synonyms in the topics:

Communications - general words

Broadcasting: radio

Phrasal verbs

copy something down
copy someone in
copy something out

copy

noun

/ˈkɑː.pi/ uk

/ˈkɒp.i/

copy noun (VERSION)

B1 [ C ]

something that has been made to be exactly like something else:

This painting is only a copy - the original hangs in the Louvre.

keep a copy of I always keep a copy of any official or important letters that I send off.

make a copy of Could you make a copy of (= use a special machine to copy) this for tomorrow's meeting, please?

B2 [ C ]

a single book, newspaper, record, or other printed or recorded text of which many have been produced:

The library has copies of all the national and local newspapers.

More examplesFewer examples

We enclose a copy of our latest brochure, with our compliments.
Would you make a copy for everybody in the office and a few extra ones for the visitors.
Could you print out a copy of that letter for me?
I'd really like a copy of the photograph - could you send me one?
I seem to have acquired two copies of this book.

SMART Vocabulary: related words and phrases

Copying and copies

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You can also find related words, phrases, and synonyms in the topics:

Samples and examples

copy noun (TEXT)

[ U ]

written text that is to be printed, or text that is intended to help with the sale of a product:

We need someone who can write good copy for our publicity department.

SMART Vocabulary: related words and phrases

Publishing: printing & word processing

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You can also find related words, phrases, and synonyms in the topics:

Advertising and marketing

(Definition of copy from the Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary & Thesaurus © Cambridge University Press)

copy | Intermediate English

copy

verb [ T ]

/ˈkɑp·i/

copy verb [T] (PRODUCE)

Add to word list Add to word list

to produce something that is exactly like another thing, or to do something meant to be like someone or something else:

The design was copied from a 19th-century wallpaper.

He copied the file onto a diskette.

copy

noun

/ˈkɑp·i/

copy noun (TEXT)

[ U ]

text that is to be printed, or text that is used to sell a product:

She writes advertising copy.

copy noun (SOMETHING PRODUCED)

[ C ]

something that is exactly like another thing:

I always keep copies of letters I have written.

Please make two copies of this.

[ C ]

A copy is also a single unit of something produced in large numbers, usually for sale:

I had a copy of her latest CD somewhere.

We ordered ten copies of the book.

(Definition of copy from the Cambridge Academic Content Dictionary © Cambridge University Press)

copy | Business English

copy

noun

/ˈkɒpi/ us

Add to word list Add to word list

[ C ] COMMERCE

a single book, newspaper, CD, or other printed or recorded product, of which many have been produced:

The 600-page volume has become an instant hit, selling 250,000 copies since its publication in October.

a copy of sth Order your copy of her new album today!

The company is offering a free copy of their anti-virus software.

[ C ]

a document or other printed material that is exactly the same as another one, produced, for example, by using a photocopier or printing it more than once from a computer:

Enclosed is a signed copy of the contract.

make/take a copy I will need to take a copy of your passport.

[ C ] IT

a computer file, document, etc. that is created to be exactly the same as another one:

Before working on the file, make a copy and save it in another folder.

[ C ] COMMERCE

a product that is made to look the same as another product, especially illegally:

If you look closely at the label, you can tell it's a copy.

The factories were for making illegal copies of software, CDs, and DVDs.

Compare

bootleg

pirate

[ U ] MARKETING

the words used in advertising to help sell a product:

The advertising copy is tested with consumer surveys.

[ U ]

writing that is going to be printed in a book, magazine, etc.:

The copy will be checked several times before publication.

Phrasal verb

copy sb in

(Definition of copy from the Cambridge Business English Dictionary © Cambridge University Press)

Examples of copy

copy

You can request your very own copy of the dataset here.

From Huffington Post

With thirty million copies of them sold in soft cover editions, it would have been queerer if you didn't run into them now and then.

From Huffington Post

The principal way a powerful, unfortunately designed digital network flattens levees is by enabling data copying.

From Wired

So many copies of the wealth-creating promise specific to the homeowner are created that the value of the homeowner's original copy is reduced.

From Wired

Copy and calls to action are more compelling.

From VentureBeat

I don't copy other people, what they do.

From ABC News

If you're making 500 copies, you have the ability to actually put your blood, sweat and tears into that thing.

From Wired

So we still need both, but they don't need to be identical copies of each other.

From Huffington Post

More than 30 million copies have been sold.

From CNN

Tickets are $26 and include a copy of the book.

From OregonLive.com

Only three copies of this occult grimoire are said to exist.

From TIME

Stop typing obvious non-facts because copying another guys articles with just enough changes is good enough.

From TIME

A copy of the police report will be necessary.

From Minneapolis Star Tribune

But if she chooses to have biological children, they too will each inherit a copy of the mutation.

From Fast Company

These examples are from corpora and from sources on the web. Any opinions in the examples do not represent the opinion of the Cambridge Dictionary editors or of Cambridge University Press or its licensors.

Collocations with copy

copy

These are words often used in combination with copy.

Click on a collocation to see more examples of it.

advertising copy

When this occurred, the decision was made based on the main advertising copy or voice-over.

From the Cambridge English Corpus

backup copy

Restoring the backup copy of these data may reset the volume's password to what it was when the backup was taken.

From

Wikipedia

This example is from Wikipedia and may be reused under a CC BY-SA license.

bootleg copy

They liked what they had played and noticed a kid with a cassette recorder making a bootleg copy and asked him for the tape.

From

Wikipedia

This example is from Wikipedia and may be reused under a CC BY-SA license.

See all collocations with copy

What is the pronunciation of copy?

A2,B2,B1,B2

Translations of copy

in Chinese (Traditional)

複製, 臨摹, 模仿，效仿…

in Chinese (Simplified)

复制, 临摹, 模仿，效仿…

in Spanish

copiar, imitar, copia…

in Portuguese

copiar, imitar, cópia…

in more languages

in Marathi

in Japanese

in Turkish

in French

in Catalan

in Dutch

in Tamil

in Hindi

in Gujarati

in Danish

in Swedish

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in German

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in Urdu

in Ukrainian

in Russian

in Telugu

in Arabic

in Bengali

in Czech

in Indonesian

in Thai

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in Polish

in Korean

in Italian

प्रत, नक्कल, अनुकरण करणे…

コピー, （本、雑誌の）～冊, ～をコピーする…

kopya, benzer, nüsha…

copie [feminine], reproduction [feminine], exemplaire [masculine]…

còpia, exemplar, copiar…

kopie, exemplaar, kopij…

ஒரு அசல் படைப்பைப் போலவே ஏதாவது ஒன்றை உருவாக்குதல், மற்றவரைப் போல் இருக்க வேண்டும் என்ற நோக்கத்தில் நடந்துகொள்வது, உடை அணிவது…

(किसी वस्तु के मूल की) कॉपी करना, नकल करना, (किसी के व्यवहार…

નકલ, પ્રતિકૃતિ, અનુકરણ…

kopi, efterligning, eksemplar…

kopia, exemplar, nummer…

tiruan, naskhah, salinan…

die Kopie, das Exemplar, der Text…

kopi [masculine], eksemplar [neuter], kopiere…

نقل کرنا, نقل (کسی دوسرے کی عادت ، بات چیت یالباس کی ہوبہونقل کرنا), نقل…

копія, матеріал, знімати копію…

копия, экземпляр, копировать…

కాపీ చేయడం, నకలు చేయడం, నకలు తయారు చేయడం…

نُسْخة, يَنْسَخ, يُقَلِّد…

নকল করা, কপি করা, মূল কাজ নকল করে হুবহু সেটির কপি উৎপন্ন করা…

kopie, výtisk, rukopis…

tiruan, kopi, eksemplar…

การเลียนแบบ, ฉบับ, เล่ม…

bản sao, một bản của cuốn sách, tờ báo…

kopia, egzemplarz, kopiować…

복사, 한 부, 복사하다…

copia, esemplare, numero…

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copulated

copulating

copulation

copulatory

copy

copy and paste phrase

copy backup BETA

copy edit

copy editing

Meaning of copy in English

copy verb [I or T] (REPRODUCE)

copy verb [I or T] (UNDERSTAND)

Phrasal verbs

copy noun (VERSION)

copy noun (TEXT)

copy | Intermediate English

copy verb [T] (PRODUCE)

copy noun (TEXT)

copy noun (SOMETHING PRODUCED)

copy | Business English

See also

Phrasal verb

Examples of copy

Collocations with copy

copy

Translations of copy

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