Etymology From Middle English copy, copie, from Old French copie (“abundance, plenty; transcript, copy”), from Medieval Latin copia (“reproduction, transcript”), from Latin cōpia (“plenty, abundance”), from *coopia, from co- (“together”) + ops (“wealth, riches”). More at opulent.
The result of copying; an identical or nearly identical duplicate of an original.
Please bring me at least 200 copies of this report. The photocopier is down the hall on the right.
His new book is out. I have a signed copy. He'll send you a copy if you want one. He's giving free copies to his former colleagues who want one. The press run is 3000 copies, and he hopes to sell more press runs after this one.
2 more examples
I already saw their draft. She emailed me a copy yesterday. I can forward it to you so that you have your own copy.
I have not the vanity to think my copy equal to the original.1656, John Denham, preface to The Destruction of Troy:
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Biology, Genetics, Medicine, Natural sciences, Sciences The result of gene or chromosomal duplication.
Every cell in this organism contains a copy of each gene, but whether that copy will be expressed depends on complex factors of cell differentiation and epigenetics.
3
An imitation, sometimes of inferior quality.
That handbag is a copy. You can tell because the buckle is different.
Has your ad copy plenty of punch?1930, “Instructions in Sound”, in Moving Picture Review & Theatre Management, volume 25, Exhibitors Trade Review Publishing, page 40:
Journalism, Media A person employed to carry copy and run errands.
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A schoolwork pad or workbook.
Tim got in trouble for forgetting his maths copy.
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A particular instance of a book: a single printed impression or digital file representing it.
Our town's public library has several copies of the Bible, in each of several editions.
Our town's public library has several copies of the second edition of Smith's textbook, but it doesn't yet have any copies of any newer edition.
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A particular instance of an issue of a periodical (e.g., magazine, journal, bulletin): a single printed impression or digital file representing that issue; (metonynmically) the issue.
Have you seen the latest copy of Newsweek yet?
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Archaic Writing paper of a particular size: Synonym of bastard.
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Obsolete That which is to be imitated, transcribed, or reproduced; a pattern, model, or example.
His virtues are an excellent copy for imitation.
Let him first learn to write, after a copy of all the letters.1669, William Holder, Elements of Speech: An Essay of Inquiry into the Natural Production of Letters: […], London: […] T. N[ewcomb] for J[ohn] Martyn printer to the R[oyal] Society, […], →OCLC:
[S]he was bleſt with no more Copie of wit, but to ſerue his Humor thus.1599 (first performance), B. I. [i.e., Ben Jonson], The Comicall Satyre of Euery Man out of His Humor. […], London: […] [Adam Islip] for William Holme, […], published 1600, →OCLC, Act II, scene i, signature F, verso:
But in them nature's copy's not eternec. 1606 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Tragedie of Macbeth”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act III, scene ii]:
Etymology From Middle English copien, from Old French copier and Medieval Latin cōpiō.
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To produce an object identical to a given object.
Please copy these reports for me.
Don't copy that floppy!
1 more example
[Isaac Newton] was obsessed with alchemy. He spent hours copying alchemical recipes and trying to replicate them in his laboratory. He believed that the Bible contained numerological codes. The truth is that Newton was very much a product of his time.2014 June 21, “Magician’s brain”, in The Economist, volume 411, number 8892:
2
To give or transmit a copy to (a person).
Make sure you copy me on that important memo.
All heads of departments have been copied.
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Computing, Engineering, Mathematics, Natural sciences, Physical sciences, Sciences To place a copy of an object in memory for later use.
First copy the files, and then paste them in another directory.
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To imitate.
Don't copy my dance moves.
Mom, he's copying me!
1 more example
We copy instinctively the voices of our companions, their accents, and their modes of pronunciation.1793, Dugald Stewart, Outlines of Moral Philosophy: