something that is made to look exactly like another thing; a duplicate.
I made a copy of the document for you.
Please keep the original safe and bring the copy to the meeting.
one of many identical printed or published books, magazines, or newspapers.
She bought a copy of the latest novel at the bookstore.
Every student must bring a copy of the textbook to class.
to make something that is exactly like another thing; to duplicate or reproduce.
Just copy the file onto a USB drive.
She copied the recipe from her grandmother’s notebook.
to do something in the same way as someone else, especially lacking originality; to imitate.
He always tries to copy his older brother’s style.
The rival company copied our design.
the written words prepared for an article, book, or advertisement before they are published.
The editor asked him to finish the copy by Friday.
She writes advertising copy for a tech company.
the legal right that allows only the creator or owner to copy, publish, perform, or sell a piece of writing, music, film, software, or other original work
The novelist retained the copyright to her book, so no one else could print it without permission.
An artist placed a clear copyright symbol next to every illustration on his website.
✦ late 16th century (originally as ‘copy right’, the right to make copies): from copy + right.
to legally register or mark a creative work so that only you have the right to copy, publish, or sell it
The band copyrighted their new album before releasing any singles online.
You should copyright your photos if you plan to sell them professionally.
✦ derived from the noun ‘copyright’; first recorded as a verb in the late 19th century.
