Copying

/ˈkɒpiɪŋ/

verbBeginner🔥Very CommonAction
2 meanings3 questions

Definitions

2 meanings
1

To make something that is the same as something else; to reproduce.

/ˈkɒpiɪŋ/

verbneutralBeginner
Action

To reproduce something in a similar form.

She is copying the notes from the textbook.

💡 Simply: Imagine you're drawing a picture, and you make another one that looks exactly the same. That's copying! It's like making a twin.

👶 For kids: Making something that looks exactly like something else.

More Examples

2

The machine is copying the document.

3

He was accused of copying someone else's ideas.

How It's Used

Technology

"I am copying the file to a different folder."

Education

"The student was caught copying from another's test."

2

The act or process of making a copy.

/ˈkɒpiɪŋ/

nounneutralIntermediate
Action

The act or process of producing a copy.

The act of copying the manuscript took several days.

💡 Simply: Imagine you're pressing 'Ctrl+C' to make a copy on your computer. It's the action of making a duplicate, from the physical act of using a copy machine, or the digital action of copying files.

👶 For kids: The thing you do when you make a copy.

More Examples

2

Plagiarism involves the copying of someone else's work without giving credit.

How It's Used

Journalism

"The journalist's copying of the document was essential for their investigation."

Tip:Consider the action itself.

From Old French *copier*, from Latin *copiāre* ('to write out, transcribe'), from *copia* ('abundance, plenty').

Used since the late 14th century, originally referring to transcribing or writing down.

Memory tip

Think of making a duplicate – a copy!

Word Origin

LanguageLatin
Original meaning

"abundance, to write out"

copying and pastingcopying filescopying a document

Common misspellings

copingcopyingg

Usage

60%Spoken
40%Written