Merriam-Webster Collegiate Dictionary - copy

 I. noun  (plural copies)  Etymology: Middle English copie, from Anglo-French, from Medieval Latin copia, from Latin, abundance — more at copious  Date: 14th century  1. an imitation, transcript, or reproduction of an original work (as a letter, a painting, a table, or a dress)  2. one of a series of especially mechanical reproductions of an original impression; also an individual example of such a reproduction  3. archaic something to be imitated ; model  4.  a. matter to be set especially for printing  b. something considered printable or newsworthy — used without an article remarks that make good ~ — Norman Cousins  c. text especially of an advertisement  5. duplicate 1a a ~ of a computer file a ~ of a gene  Synonyms: see reproduction  II. verb  (copied; ~ing)  Date: 14th century  transitive verb  1. to make a ~ or duplicate of ~ a document ~ a computer file  2. to model oneself on  intransitive verb  1. to make a ~  2. to undergo ~ing the document did not ~ well Synonyms:  ~, imitate, mimic, ape, mock mean to make something so that it resembles an existing thing. ~ suggests duplicating an original as nearly as possible copied the painting and sold the fake as an original. imitate suggests following a model or a pattern but may allow for some variation imitate a poet's style. mimic implies a close ~ing (as of voice or mannerism) often for fun, ridicule, or lifelike imitation pupils mimicking their teacher. ape may suggest presumptuous, slavish, or inept imitating of a superior original American fashion designers aped their European colleagues. mock usually implies imitation with derision mocking a vain man's pompous manner.