copy: Meaning and Definition of

cop•y

Pronunciation: (kop'ē), [key]
— n., pl. cop•ies, cop•ied, cop•y•ing.
—n.
  1. an imitation, reproduction, or transcript of an original: a copy of a famous painting.
  2. one of the various examples or specimens of the same book, engraving, or the like.
  3. written matter intended to be reproduced in printed form: The editor sent the copy for the next issue to the printer.
  4. the text of a news story, advertisement, television commercial, etc., as distinguished from related visual material.
  5. the newsworthiness of a person, thing, or event (often prec. by good or bad):Cf. news (def. 4). The president is always good copy.
  6. replication (def. 7).
  7. pictures and artwork prepared for reproduction.
  8. (in schools) a composition; a written assignment.
  9. a size of drawing or writing paper, 16 × 20 in. (40 × 50 cm).
  10. something that is to be reproduced; an example or pattern, as of penmanship to be copied by a pupil.
—v.t.
  1. to make a copy of; transcribe; reproduce: to copy a set of figures from a book.
  2. to receive and understand (a radio message or its sender).
  3. to follow as a pattern or model; imitate.
—v.i.
  1. to make a copy or copies.
  2. to undergo copying: It copied poorly.
  3. to hear or receive a radio message, as over a CB radio: Do you copy?
  4. to leap from one ice pan to another across open water.
  5. See (def. 5).
Random House Unabridged Dictionary, Copyright © 1997, by Random House, Inc., on Infoplease.
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