copy

I. noun (plural copies) Etymology: Middle English copie, from Anglo-French, from Medieval Latin copia, from Latin, abundance — more at copious Date: 14th century 1. an imitation, transcript, or reproduction of an original work (as a letter, a painting, a table, or a dress) 2. one of a series of especially mechanical reproductions of an original impression; also an individual example of such a reproduction 3. archaic something to be imitated ; model 4. a. matter to be set especially for printing b. something considered printable or newsworthy — used without an article <

remarks that make good copy — Norman Cousins

> c. text especially of an advertisement 5. duplicate 1a <

a copy of a computer file

> <

a copy of a gene

> Synonyms: see reproduction II. verb (copied; copying) Date: 14th century transitive verb 1. to make a copy or duplicate of <

copy a document

> <

copy a computer file

> 2. to model oneself on intransitive verb 1. to make a copy 2. to undergo copying <

the document did not copy well

> Synonyms: copy, imitate, mimic, ape, mock mean to make something so that it resembles an existing thing. copy suggests duplicating an original as nearly as possible <

copied the painting and sold the fake as an original

>. imitate suggests following a model or a pattern but may allow for some variation <

imitate a poet's style

>. mimic implies a close copying (as of voice or mannerism) often for fun, ridicule, or lifelike imitation <

pupils mimicking their teacher

>. ape may suggest presumptuous, slavish, or inept imitating of a superior original <

American fashion designers aped their European colleagues

>. mock usually implies imitation with derision <

mocking a vain man's pompous manner

>.