copy

Everyday

1. A copy is a thing made to be the same as another one, like a copy of a page or a photo. tree →
2. A copy is also one of many printed books, newspapers or games of the same kind: the shop sold 150 copies. tree →
3. To copy is to make a thing the same as another, or to do the same as someone else. tree →
4. To copy in a test is to take another pupil's answers, which is cheating. tree →
5. A copy can also be a model of good writing or drawing that you try to follow exactly. tree →

In the lessons

In maths: copies of a page or book that are counted, printed or sold; «copies per minute» is a rate, and «copies of each» multiplies. In school: copy the sum from the board, copy a drawing; in tests copying is not allowed. In computers: copy and paste. In stories: a younger child copies an older one. Phrases: make a copy, a copy of, copy out, copy down, copy and paste, copycat.

Examples

• The machine prints 20 copies a minute. tree →
• She made 3 copies of each page. tree →
• The shop sold 150 copies of the book. tree →
• How many copies for 25 pupils? tree →
• Copy the sentence from the board into your book. tree →
• My little brother copies everything I do. tree →
• Do not copy your friend's answers in the test. tree →
• Select the picture, then copy and paste it. tree →
• The museum shows a copy of a famous painting. tree →
• "See, this is the way you should hold yourselves," said the copy. tree →

Note

Plural «copies»; past «copied». Countable noun: a copy, two copies. Usually counted things; «copies of each» or «per minute» is a rate. Trap: «3 copies of each of 4 pages» is 12 sheets. A «copycat» is a person who copies others (a bit rude). Copying someone else's work and calling it yours is cheating.

In Jewish tradition

In Deuteronomy it means a hand-written copy of the Torah. In the Sefer Yetzirah texts it means a written version of the manuscript.

Interpretation. The king must write his own Torah scroll, which tradition says he keeps with him to remind himself that he is under the law. Scribes still copy the Torah by hand with great care.

Examples

• And it shall be, when he sitteth upon the throne of his kingdom, that he shall write him a copy of this law in a book, out of that which is before the priests the Levites. (Torah DEU.17.18, JPS 1917) tree →
• A MSS. copy dated 1719, in the British Museum. (Sefer Yetzirah, Westcott 1893) tree →
• [p. 11] The following copies of the "Sepher Yetzirah" in Hebrew, I have also examined:— (Sefer Yetzirah, Westcott 1893) tree →
• And he wrote there upon the stones a copy of the law of Moses, which he wrote before the children of Israel. (Prophets JOS.8.32, JPS 1917) tree →
• this is the copy of the letter that they sent unto him, even unto Artaxerxes the king — thy servants the men beyond the River — and now (Writings EZR.4.11, JPS 1917) tree →
• The copy of the letter that Tattenai, the governor beyond the River, and Shethar-bozenai, and his companions the Apharesachites, who were beyond the River, sent unto Darius the king; (Writings EZR.5.6, JPS 1917) tree →

Note

Plural «copies»; past «copied». Countable noun: a copy, two copies. Usually counted things; «copies of each» or «per minute» is a rate. Trap: «3 copies of each of 4 pages» is 12 sheets. A «copycat» is a person who copies others (a bit rude). Copying someone else's work and calling it yours is cheating.