1.copy的基本意思是对原物的复制,并力图在形状、外观、特征等方面与原物尽可能相似,可表示“模仿”“仿效”,也可表示“复印”“抄写”。
2.copy作“抄写”解时,可用作及物动词或不及物动词。用作及物动词时,可接word, letter等名词作宾语,也可接以形容词充当补足语的复合宾语。
3.copy作“模仿,仿效”解时,只用作及物动词,可指模仿人物的行为、思想或穿着打扮等。

copy after(v.+prep.)
模仿 imitate
▲copy after sb/sth
He copied after bad precedents.他仿效恶例。
She liked to copy after movie stars when she was a little girl.当她还是个小姑娘时,她就喜欢模仿电影明星。

copy down(v.+adv.)
抄下 write down exactly out
▲copy sth ⇔ down
Would you bother to copy the statistics down? 你能费心将这些统计数字抄下来吗?
The reporters copied down every word spoken by the secretary of the Party Committee.记者们记下了党委书记说的每一句话。
At the press conference, the reporters copied down every word spoken by the Prime Minister.在新闻发布会上,记者们逐字记下了首相的讲话。
◇ 用于be ～ed 结构
The hit-and-run driver didn't escape punishment he deserved because his car number had been copied down. 那位肇事后逃逸的司机未能逃脱应得的惩罚,因为有人记下了他的车牌号。

copy from(v.+prep.)
抄袭; 仿造 cheat by writing or doing as sb/sth else
▲copy from sb/sth
I want you to copy carefully from this model.我要你按这个模型仔细仿造一个。
Their answers are exactly the same—one of them must have copied from the other.他们的答案完全相同——他们当中一个人一定是抄袭了另一个人的答案。

copy out(v.+adv.)
仔细或全部地抄下… write sth (all) down exactly
▲copy sth ⇔ out
She loved the poet so much that she copied out his whole collection of poetry. 她酷爱这位诗人,以致将他的诗集全抄录下来。
The sales manager asked his secretary to copy out the addresses of their customers. 销售部经理请他的秘书抄下所有客户的地址。
Please copy out this letter and send the original to Mr. Smith.请你把这封信抄一份,将原件送(寄)给史密斯先生。
He has copied the whole essay out again.他又把整篇文章誊写了一遍。

用作不及物动词
▲S+～(+A)
No person of independent mind will copy consciously, but many copy unconsciously.没有哪个独立思考的人会有意识地模仿,但是许多人在无意识地模仿。
She never copies during examinations.她考试从不左顾右盼。
He was punished for copying.他因抄袭而受处分。
用作及物动词
▲S+～+n./pron.
Copy this page in your notebook.把这页抄写在笔记本上。
It is dishonest to copy your neighbour's answers.抄袭你邻座的答案是不诚实的。
Copy your aunt and you won't go wrong.向你姑妈学,你就不会办错事。
John always copies the way I dress.我怎么穿衣打扮,约翰总是照着做。
Never copy foreign things blindly or mechanically.绝不能盲目或机械地照搬外国的东西。
用作宾补动词
▲S+～+n./pron.+adj.
You must copy it fair.你一定要把它抄写清楚。
其他
▲v-ing as Attrib.
I want a piece of copying paper.我要一张复写纸。

copy, ape, imitate
参见ape条。

她把黑板上的注释抄到自己的书里了。
［误］  She copied up the notes on the board into her book.
［正］  She copied down the notes on the board into her book.
［析］  copy作“抄写”解时，其后接down不能接up。

［同义词］ n. duplicate, imitation, reduplication, replica, reproduction v. duplicate, imitate, reproduce
［词源］  ＜中古拉丁语copia(抄本)

1.copy用作名词的意思是“抄本,抄件,副本；本,册,份”,是可数名词,用作复数时表示同一种书的许多册,而不是许多种不同的书,后面常跟介词of。
2.copy也可作“准备排印的书面材料”解,是不可数名词。

copy cat
盲目模仿者 a person who follows blindly
He calls me a copy cat just because my new shoes look like his.就因为我那双新鞋子与他的鞋子相像,他就说我模仿他。
She is just a copy cat who follows her sister's lead in everything.她只是个盲目模仿别人的人,什么都跟她姐姐学。

fair copy
誊清本 good likeness; clean version of a text
He demonstrated his artistic talents by making a fair copy of the Mona Lisa.他那幅《蒙娜丽莎》的摹本表现出自己的艺术才能。
Miss Smith,I have amended that letter; would you please make a fair copy and bring it to me for signature?史密斯小姐,我已修改了那封信,请帮我誊清后送给我签名。

make good copy
成为…的好材料 be good material of sth
Your story will make good copy.你的故事将成为报道的好材料。

This is not the original picture, but just a copy of it.这不是那幅画的原作,仅仅是它的复制品。
By impressing a piece of soap with the borrowed key, the thief was able to have an exact copy made.这个贼把所借的钥匙的形状印在一块肥皂上,这样就能复制出相同的另一把钥匙。
That book is in print, you can get a copy at almost any bookstore.那书已出版,你可在任何书店买到。
He took a copy of the newspaper as it came off the press.他拿了一份刚印出来的报纸。
If you can't afford a new copy of the book, perhaps you can find a second hand copy.如果你买不起一本新的,你或许可以找到一本旧的。
The author favoured us with a copy of his latest book.作者答应送给我们一本他的近作。
All copy must be typewritten and sent to the editor by Friday morning.所有付印稿必须用打字机打好,在星期五上午送交给编辑。
I want a piece of copy paper.我要一张稿纸。
The royal family members are always good copy for a magazine feature.王室成员总是编杂志特写的好材料。

下面两句意思不同:
This is a good copy.
这是一个很好的拷贝。
This is good copy.
这是写作的好题材。