- 1 [transitive] copy something to make something that is exactly like something else They copied the designs from those on Greek vases. Everything in the computer's memory can be copied onto DVDs. Wordfinderfilecopy, data, delete, file, folder, icon, menu, open, password, print Oxford Collocations Dictionary adverbillegally prepositionfrom, onto phrasescopy and paste, be widely copied See full entry
- 2 [transitive] to write something exactly as it is written somewhere else copy something (from something) (into/onto something) She copied the phone number into her address book. copy something (down/out) I copied out several poems. Oxford Collocations Dictionary adverbcarefully, laboriously, meticulously, … prepositionfrom, into, onto, … See full entry
- 3 [transitive] copy somebody/something to behave or do something in the same way as somebody else synonym imitate She copies everything her sister does. Their tactics have been copied by other terrorist organizations. Oxford Collocations Dictionary adverbblindly, slavishly prepositionfrom, off See full entry
- 4 [intransitive] copy (from/off somebody) to cheat in an exam, school work, etc. by writing what somebody else has written and pretending it is your own work
- 5[transitive] copy something (especially North American English) = photocopy Word OriginMiddle 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’).Extra examples Data can be copied from the computer onto disk. He copied all the details from the brochure onto a piece of paper. He copied that mannerism from his brother. I copied down several phone numbers from the list. She copied all the addresses from the website into her address book. She copied all the addresses into her address book. She slavishly copies the older girl’s style. She was caught copying off another student. The product has been widely copied by other manufacturers. They laboriously copied out manuscripts. Use the clipboard to copy and paste information from websites. copying a recipe off the packet illegally copied software laboriously copying out an old manuscript Copying other students’ work is not acceptable. Finally, the notes can be copied and distributed to the audience. He’d been accused of copying ideas from other artists. Phrasal Verbscopy in
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BrE BrE//ˈkɒpi//; NAmE NAmE//ˈkɑːpi//
Verb Forms present simple I / you / we / they copy BrE BrE//ˈkɒpi//; NAmE NAmE//ˈkɑːpi//
he / she / it copies BrE BrE//ˈkɒpiz//; NAmE NAmE//ˈkɑːpiz//
past simple copied BrE BrE//ˈkɒpid//; NAmE NAmE//ˈkɑːpid//
past participle copied BrE BrE//ˈkɒpid//; NAmE NAmE//ˈkɑːpid//
-ing form copying BrE BrE//ˈkɒpiɪŋ//; NAmE NAmE//ˈkɑːpiɪŋ//
Check pronunciation: copy
