copy

n. something that is made to look exactly like another thing.

n. an identical or nearly identical reproduction of an original object, document, or digital file.

“I made a copy of the house keys so my roommate could have a set.”

“The archivist insisted on making a high-resolution digital copy of the manuscript before allowing any further physical handling of the fragile original.”

n. one single example of a book, newspaper, or magazine.

n. a single specimen of a particular publication or edition.

“The library has three copies of the new novel available to borrow.”

“The author spent the afternoon signing copies of her latest biography for a long queue of eager readers at the local bookstore.”

n. the words written for an advertisement, a newspaper, or a website.

n. textual matter intended for printing or publication, particularly in journalism or advertising. Uncountable in this sense.

“The marketing team needs to finish the ad copy by tomorrow morning.”

“The editor rejected the initial draft, claiming the copy was too dry and failed to engage the magazine's target demographic.”

Technical

v. to make something that is exactly like something else.

v. to produce a duplicate of an original; in computing, to transfer data to a buffer or another location.

“Please copy these documents and hand them out to everyone in the meeting.”

“The software allows users to copy entire directories to an external drive with a single command, ensuring a reliable backup of all essential data.”

v. to behave or do something in the same way as another person.

v. to follow as a pattern or model; to mimic the actions or style of another.

“Young children often copy the way their parents speak and move.”

“The apprentice spent years trying to copy his master's unique brushwork before finally developing a style of his own.”

v. to send a message or email to someone who is not the main receiver.

v. to send a duplicate of a communication to a third party, often using the 'CC' function in email.

“Could you copy me on that email so I can stay updated on the project?”

“The manager requested to be copied in on all correspondence regarding the contract negotiations to ensure transparency across the department.”

v. to hear and understand a message over a radio.

v. to receive and understand a radio transmission successfully.

“Loud and clear, I copy you.”

“The pilot confirmed the instructions from the control tower with a brief 'copy that' before beginning the final approach to the runway.”

Informal